Infant and Toddler Program
The first three years of your child’s life are a period of remarkable growth in all areas of development. Recent research about how rapidly a baby’s brain grows and develops only reinforces what we’ve known all along; quality care can create patterns for life-long learning. At George Fox Friends School and Early Learning Center we strive to meet the needs of the whole child, taking into consideration social and emotional development, as well as cognitive, language, and motor development.
Social & Emotional Development
Our teachers create an atmosphere of trust for the children so they feel secure within the center’s environment. Infants and toddlers have an instinctive need to feel attached to a special person who responds to them in a caring and sensitive way. From having cuddle time to teaching our toddlers how to use peaceful conflict resolution strategies, we nurture every aspect of their developing selves.
Cognitive Development
We believe that infants and toddlers learn best in the context of a nurturing environment. As our children are involved in play experiences they are encouraged in problem solving, self-care skills, fine motor development, interaction with their peers and with a variety of developmentally appropriate toys. It is through this on-going exploration that cognitive growth flourishes and the young child’s brain is exercised. We also believe infants and toddlers learn best by doing. The teachers of the Early Learning Center provide ever-changing hands-on learning opportunities for our children to play and interact with the environment.
Language Development
At the core of our Language Program for Infants and Toddlers is rich literature. It is through these first exposures to books that children develop an interest in reading. From our babies who enjoy mouthing books, to our toddlers who find great joy in turning the pages and pointing out familiar objects that are found on each new page, our teachers encourage the children to explore and enjoy books. At this same time toddlers are going through a huge “vocabulary explosion.” New words are spoken everyday. Teachers introduce new vocabulary through play and conversations. According to recent research, the amount and quality of language that is used in conversation with children during infancy and toddler hood influences their rate of verbal development. With this in mind, our Language Program includes a whole host of rhymes, finger plays, poems, and songs so children naturally find great delight in singing throughout the day.
Motor Development
Many opportunities are presented for our children to develop and practice their emerging fine motor skills. Toys and materials such as, crayons and paper, paint brush and paint, dolls and doll clothes, nesting toys, cars, blocks, and play dough all provide these opportunities. Other activities include being able to squeeze, grasp, hold, pour, and scoop at our sensory table. Our older toddlers use scissors, lace beads, explore magnetic blocks, and participate in center activities that are based on the week’s theme.