What does a typical morning in the toddler program look like?
“The program is really simple, and that is by design. I try very hard not to make it a show or a performance. It seems to me that so many adults do not know how to let young children lead. That is a critical component of this program for me, and I think the families who join us every week really value that.
As for the program itself, we begin every morning by gathering together on the big field. We sing songs and rhymes that change through the seasons. We repeat everything twice, and the songs repeat throughout the session, simply because there is so much learning that comes from the routine and the repetition. It is really wonderful to see the toddlers start to sing along and do the hand motions as they come week after week.
After our circle time, we hike somewhere on the campus. We typically explore various outdoor classroom spaces or hike around the pond. Usually, we end up at the creek, where we have set up a home base for our outdoor space. Then, we PLAY! Occasionally, I will provide a few play props, but for the most part, nature is really the biggest hit. We have things like rakes, buckets, and sidewalk chalk, but it’s always the garter snake, or stacking rocks, or exploring the stream current that makes them the most excited. We then end our time with a closing circle and walk out together.”
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