Here at Toddle Inn, we understand that placing an infant in childcare can be an emotional experience. Our caring team of infant teachers are here to help and offer support along your baby’s first step into group care. In these classrooms, children are introduced to their first peer social relationships and our knowledgeable and skilled educators are trained to respond to the unique needs of infants and guide them as they grow and develop. The first year is full of exciting developmental milestones! Toddle Inn educators provide high quality care and responsive curriculum which serves to support the individual needs of each child. Experiences provided are designed to develop cognitive, fine motor, gross motor, sensory, and social/emotional skills. Early language and communication skills are developed through language modeling, imitation, and introduction of infant sign language. Infants’ physical needs are met individually, and all classrooms and educators adhere to DHHS licensing regulations.

In the toddler years, children enter an exciting time of discovering social relationships, building independence, and developing language. During this great time of change, children progress from two to one nap per day, from walking to running, from babbling to talking, and from labeling to asking questions. All of this comes with great energy and enthusiasm for exploring their surroundings. Socialization can have its bumps, toddlers at times will be physical with their peers and experience tantrums; however, this frequently phases out as children develop a stronger grasp on language and build their vocabulary. The educators for our toddlers understand the reactive nature of this age and plan curriculum to teach language, emotional literacy, and establish the foundation for positive social interactions. Fine motor and gross motor skills are developed through strength building, play based activities such as manipulating playdough, traversing obstacle courses, stacking blocks, and practicing yoga exercises. Cognitive skills are challenged through problem solving activities and games that explore cause & effect. Children thrive on routine and predictability and the days at Toddle Inn are structured to have a predictable rhythm. Activities are offered multiple times over the course of a week or longer to promote competency and build confidence. Children venture outdoors daily (weather permitting) and experience the sights, sounds, and textures of nature. Toddlers playing outside at Toddle Inn Starting at 18 months old children begin to transition from a crib to napping mats for rest time. Toddlerhood is also the time many children begin to exhibit interest in potty training. At Toddle Inn we strive to follow the lead of children and families in support of positive potty training. Daily sheets and/or Brightwheel are used to communicate diaper changes, meals, and nap times with families.

In the preschool years children become deeply invested in furthering their independence, developing close relationships with their peers, and asking (many, MANY) questions to better understand their world. Teachers at Toddle Inn guide children through their learning with activities and explorations that engage children through play. Our educators understand that children learn through multiple methods and provide opportunities for children to learn in a manner that best suits their style. Curriculum is responsive to children’s developmental readiness and incorporates children’s interests which helps children mature socially, physically, intellectually, and emotionally. Children follow a predictable rhythm in their daily routine and participate in community jobs in their classroom – developing confidence, independence, and positive self-esteem. This is a great time where children begin to expand their awareness from a very egocentric perspective to a realization of a more complex relationship between themselves and others. As young children begin to develop their identities, they start to identify their favorite things – colors, toys, games, friends – and to associate these and other symbols with their own identity. Towards the end of this preschool time many children begin showing more representation in their artwork and show interest in writing using scrawling scribbles, symbol-like letter forms, and eventually letters. Special interest is given to the most important letters of all – those in their names. Toddle Inn teachers gently help children expand their interest in these pre-academic skills, without rushing or pushing children too quickly and allowing their learning to blossom authentically. Preschool children at Toddle Inn participate in a hands-on learning process throughout the year – planting flowers, problem solving, digging in snow, splashing in water, sorting colors, and creating art. Classrooms are grouped by developmental readiness and age: 2 ½-3-year olds or 3-4-year olds.

As children prepare for entering Kindergarten Toddle Inn provides two distinct programs designed to best meet the unique needs of all children. Teachers and directors thoughtfully evaluate the whole child for readiness in order to place them in a program where they will be most successful and have positive learning experiences. Decisions are based on an academic screening as well as a thorough review of each child’s social/emotional development, independence skills, ability to transition through daily routines, and their approaches to learning.

Our school age program gives children a safe, supervised space to play in the hours before and after school. This is a multi-age program that allows children to continue building their academic and social skills in a comfortable, nurturing environment. During school vacations students participate in engaging activities which help to support their academic and social growth. Teachers draw upon children’s interests and abilities when designing curriculum and incorporate opportunities for active play through structured games outdoors and in the gym.