Two and three year olds are rapidly discovering who they are, and our classrooms are designed to nurture growth in identity and independence. In Twos and Early Preschool, children learn by doing!
Our children build fine motor skills (and concentration!) while stringing big beads, using plastic tweezers to pluck objects up and into bowls, and pushing pegs into boards. Our children have plenty of opportunities to release energy and demonstrate strength, coordination, and gross motor skills. They jump and run outdoors, climb and test balance on low balance beams, ride tricycles, dance, and throw balls to friends.
Two and three year olds are beginning to process sensory stimulation with greater awareness and control. Our children finger paint with heightened curiosity about the slippery texture between their fingers, press firmly into lumps of playdough, and rub granules of sand between their fingers. After searching for treasures on nature walks, you will find our children scooping, sorting, pouring, and burying these treasures in our sensory tables and even excavating these treasures from ice with warm water in pipettes. Each of these sensory experiences is open-ended and rich, stimulating focus for longer periods of time and building other skills like emotional regulation.
With open-ended questions, our teachers guide children to tell stories about their play and to name and marvel at the small details of their experiences in this world as writers do. Our teachers read with the children many times throughout each day - as a class and in smaller, more intimate groups. Children participate in early literacy activities independently too; you’ll find them choosing books from the classroom library and pouring through the pages while comfortably seated on the carpet or in our cozy reading nooks. Our libraries are set up to nurture their love for reading, full of familiar, well-loved titles on shelves at their level.
Our classrooms are arranged in interest centers, including Science and Nature, Sand and Water, Engineering, Art, Literacy, Dramatic Play, Music and Movement, and Fine Motor. Provocations, or invitations to play, spark curiosity and new interests. Open-ended materials are organized in open baskets on low shelves, ready for child-led exploration!
physical Care
Our schedule is designed to introduce structure with a balance of activity to stimulate, nutrition to fuel, and rest to rejuvenate your active two and three year olds. Routines support children in independently performing self-care skills, such as handwashing and making choices at family-style meals. As children show signs of readiness, we partner with families to support children in toilet learning. Ever patient and supportive, our teachers respond intentionally to each child’s cues for help in mastering these skills.
Motor Skills Development
Our children build fine motor skills (and concentration!) while stringing big beads, using plastic tweezers to pluck objects up and into bowls, and pushing pegs into boards. Our children have plenty of opportunities to release energy and demonstrate strength, coordination, and gross motor skills. They jump and run outdoors, climb and test balance on low balance beams, ride tricycles, dance, and throw balls to friends.
Sensory Exploration
Two and three year olds are beginning to process sensory stimulation with greater awareness and control. Our children finger paint with heightened curiosity about the slippery texture between their fingers, press firmly into lumps of playdough, and rub granules of sand between their fingers. After searching for treasures on nature walks, you will find our children scooping, sorting, pouring, and burying these treasures in our sensory tables and even excavating these treasures from ice with warm water in pipettes. Each of these sensory experiences is open-ended and rich, stimulating focus for longer periods of time and building other skills like emotional regulation.
Social-Emotional Skills
Children rapidly develop social and play skills while engaging in more sustained interactions with their friends! Central to our practice, we are positive and proactive with children, and our guidance is rooted in the knowledge of each individual child in our care. Our teachers engage children in conversations, using open-ended questions to support the child in elaboration, modeling appropriate turn taking, and thoughtfully listening and responding to each child’s expressed feelings. Teachers observe each child’s cues in order to balance guiding the child and allowing the child the space to problem solve independently.
Language Development
With open-ended questions, our teachers guide children to tell stories about their play and to name and marvel at the small details of their experiences in this world as writers do. Our teachers read with the children many times throughout each day – as a class and in smaller, more intimate groups. Children participate in early literacy activities independently too; you’ll find them choosing books from the classroom library and pouring through the pages while comfortably seated on the carpet or in our cozy reading nooks. Our libraries are set up to nurture their love for reading, full of familiar, well-loved titles on shelves at their level.
Cognitive Development:
Our classrooms are arranged in interest centers, including Science and Nature, Sand and Water, Engineering, Art, Literacy, Dramatic Play, Music and Movement, and Fine Motor. Provocations, or invitations to play, spark curiosity and new interests. Open-ended materials are organized in open baskets on low shelves, ready for child-led exploration!
