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Parental Involvement:

Parent participation is always welcome and parents are encouraged to be involved in a variety of activities such as reading to the class, sharing special talents, celebrating classroom holidays and holding hands on field trips. Since the beginning of the year can be a difficult transition period for some children, they are given a chance to acclimate to a new caregiver situation before we invite parents to participate in classroom activities.

Emotional Skill Development:

At this level, emotional development is based on supporting children through the challenges met in a social setting. Children are encouraged to express feelings, take the risk of building peer relationships, and separate from parents knowing that mommies and daddies will always come back. Children also establish daily routines, and when changes occur, verbal cues are given to assist children in adapting to a different routine. Children at this age need to feel secure within the group. Our teachers help them to communicate through reassurance by allowing them to become comfortable in front of the class. In addition, they assist them in developing a sense of empathy and respect for other children. Our teachers support children in early decision making by offering them simple choices.

Social Skill Development:

Our program focuses on allowing children to make a smooth transition from parents or one primary caregiver to another. Efforts are made to meet the needs of the individual temperament of each child. Children are encouraged to share, take turns, and develop verbal skills. Emphasis is placed on using language skills to express feelings of pleasure and displeasure towards peers. Another goal is to encourage children to share not only toys but also the attention of his or her peers and caregivers. We also emphasize the importance of good manners and practice this in all aspects of the school day.

Self Help Skills are also emphasized in the two year-old program. Our teachers encourage children to learn these vital skills by teaching them to throw away their own trash, wash their hands, put the toys away, and learn ways to dress themselves and use the toilet with rewards and praise for success as well as encouragement for those who are still in the process.

Physical Skill Development:

Through the use of easels, manipulative toys, movement activities, the sensory table, dancing and coloring, children are encouraged to exercise various muscles – both large and small. Play stimulates small (fine) muscle control in the hands. Playdoh and colored markers are available for children to develop skills while engaged in freely chosen play activities. Opportunities for twos to develop their large muscles (gross motor) abound. Outside play, dancing, Rebounders, and other movement activities are integrated into daily activities to stimulate growth and body control as well as to allow children to burn off energy within the daily routine.

Language Arts:

Children are encouraged to exercise their language skills throughout the day, especially during circle time. Answering simple questions, listening to stories, singing songs, and practicing finger plays stimulate both receptive and expressive language skills. In addition, in the group setting, children are constantly being exposed to new vocabulary and the meaning of words. They are encouraged to practice speaking with the goals of increasing vocabulary, stimulating listening skills, and improving clarity of speaking skills.

Social Studies:

Social studies at age two consist of learning about the child’s immediate community. Families, community helpers, and school faculty and staff figure prominently. Teachers use felt story boards, books,and other toys and manipulatives to teach these principles.

Math:

Basic math concepts are introduced by counting, finger-plays, and identifying number concepts, such as counting the children at line-up time.

Science:

Children at this age are natural scientists, conducting their own experiments and discoveries. Our teachers facilitate this by encouraging the twos to be aware of science and how the results of their “experiments” impact the world around them. The sensory table is used to encourage science exploration. The use of sand, water and oatmeal present a tactile experience.

Art:

Art pulls concepts into the creative and concrete world of two year-old children. The use of various art media stimulates them to identify colors, sizes, and simple shapes. Through daily art experiences, children develop large and fine motor skills. Additionally, twos increase their attention span, creativity, initiative, involvement, participation, teamwork, and cooperation as they participate in art activities. Our teachers focus on the importance of the art process versus the art product.

Music:

Music is important to twos and is incorporated daily into lessons. Songs are used for every part of the day’s routines, such as clean up time, line up, counting, circle time and toilet practice. We have music once a week with our music teacher, Miss Ellen, a certified music teacher. The goal of the various music themes is to coordinate rhythm, memory, recall, dancing, creative movement, auditory discrimination, and music appreciation within the classroom activities.

Foreign Language:

Our twos have an informal introduction to foreign languages. Basic words, songs, and flannel boards are used to teach the children. The twos are included in our world culture studies and the language of the various countries.