Toddler Classroom
Our Toddler Classroom (18–24 Months)
A busy, hands-on, language-rich environment where toddlers build independence, confidence, and early learning skills through intentional play.
Cognitive Development – How Toddlers Learn to Think
Academy Goal
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Provide intentional, play-based experiences that support toddlers as they sort, stack, match, pretend, plan, and solve simple problems—building strong foundations for reasoning, memory, and early logic.
Around 18–24 months, toddlers become true investigators. They begin making connections, copying sequences, exploring simple pretend play, and demonstrating early problem-solving skills. This stage aligns closely with Frog Street Toddler’s focus on cause-and-effect, object permanence, and simple reasoning.
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Foundations We Aim to Build in Older Toddlers
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Purposeful Problem Solving
Trying different strategies, exploring how things work, and sticking with a task.
Frog Street Tie-In: “Toddlers learn by doing and repeating.” -
Matching & Categorizing
Sorting by color or shape, noticing similarities and differences. -
Understanding Cause & Effect
Predicting outcomes (e.g., “If I push this, it falls.”) -
Object Permanence (Mastery Stage)
Finding hidden objects, remembering where things belong. -
Simple Sequencing & Predictability
Following two-step actions and familiar routines. -
Early Symbolic Thinking & Pretend Play
Feeding dolls, pretending to talk on phones, imitating adults. -
Curiosity & Exploration
Asking questions through actions: testing, trying, and repeating.
Social–Emotional Development – How Toddlers Learn to Connect, Feel, and Relate
Academy Goal
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Support toddlers as they build emotional awareness, independence, peer relationships, and self-regulation through consistent routines and responsive guidance.
From 18–24 months, toddlers experience big emotions as they gain independence. Frog Street emphasizes naming feelings, modeling calm behavior, and building confidence through routines.
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Foundations We Aim to Build
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Secure Relationships
Feeling safe enough to explore yet returning to caregivers for reassurance. -
Emotional Awareness
Beginning to name or express feelings with words or gestures.
Frog Street: “Name emotions during daily routines.” -
Self-Regulation (Emerging Skills)
Using simple strategies like comfort items, deep breaths with help, or caregiver support. -
Parallel Play With Peers
Playing next to other children and imitating actions. -
Sense of Self & Independence
Saying “me do it,” choosing activities, showing preferences. -
Empathy Development (Beginning Stage)
Showing concern when others cry, offering a toy or pat.
Physical Development – How Toddlers Learn to Move & Use Their Bodies
Academy Goal
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Provide safe, age-appropriate opportunities for toddlers to climb, run, jump, stack, build, pour, scribble, and manipulate objects—building coordination, strength, and body control in alignment with Frog Street’s motor development goals.
By 18–24 months, toddlers become very active movers. They refine balance, coordination, hand strength, and fine motor control.
Foundations We Aim to Build
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Gross Motor Skills
Running, climbing, walking backward, stepping over objects, kicking balls. -
Fine Motor Skills
Turning pages, stacking blocks higher, using simple tools, early pre-writing strokes. -
Hand–Eye Coordination
Placing objects on pegs, pouring materials, threading large items. -
Strength & Balance
Climbing toddler-safe structures, carrying objects, squatting and standing repeatedly. -
Spatial Awareness
Understanding over/under, inside/outside, up/down through movement play.
Language Development – How Toddlers Learn to Communicate
Academy Goal
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Model rich language, encourage early vocabulary, ask open-ended questions, read daily, and support toddlers as they use words, signs, gestures, and emerging sentences to express themselves.
Frog Street Toddler emphasizes language modeling, songs & chants, daily reading, and responsive communication.
Foundations We Aim to Build
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Receptive Language (Understanding)
Following two-step directions, identifying familiar objects, recognizing action words. -
Expressive Language (Speaking)
Using single words and beginning two-word combinations (“more milk,” “my shoes”). -
Labeling & Vocabulary Growth
Naming objects, body parts, animals, foods, and familiar people.
Frog Street Tie-In: “Talk about everything.” -
Joint Attention & Shared Conversations
Pointing, showing, taking turns in back-and-forth communication. -
Early Literacy Awareness
Pointing to pictures, imitating sounds, finishing lines in familiar rhymes, scribbling.
Creative Expression
Academy Goal
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Provide sensory-rich, process-based experiences that allow toddlers to explore color, sound, texture, and movement.
Foundations We Aim to Build
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Scribbling & early mark-making
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Finger painting, stamping, sensory art
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Music, rhythm, and simple movement patterns
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Pretend play as early storytelling
What Makes Our Toddler Program Exceptional
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Warm, responsive caregivers who understand toddler emotions
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Hands-on, sensory-rich environments that match Frog Street Toddler themes
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Intentional learning centers supporting language, motor skills, and problem-solving
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Predictable routines that build security and confidence
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Individualized learning plans for each child’s developmental stage
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Built-in museum-style learning spaces created for exploration and independence
