Description of
Toddlers:

Toddlers are delightful,
physically active learners.  They
learn by doing, have tireless curiosity, a zeal for like, and get totally
involved in the here and now.  They
need to explore, touch, see, smell, hear, taste, run, hit, bite, sit with
books, laugh, cry and investigate life.

Toddlers are in a stage of
development in which feeling secure and confident is directly related to how we
treat them.  It is important they be
comfortable with, and trusting of adults.
Children believe what we tell them, and they learn about the world
through experiences we provide.
They need our support and guidance.
It is important to design a curriculum based on an understanding of
toddlers.  Below are some characteristics
of this magical age group.
Toddlers:

·
Are curious and
concrete

·
Are rapidly
developing language

·
Like loud noises
when they make them

·
Don’t like
loud noises made by others

·
Imitate adults

·
Are learning to
cope with their emotions

·
Want to do things
by themselves and are proud of self-help skills

·
Have yet to
develop impulse control

·
Find it difficult
to share

·
Find transitions
difficult

·
Zip around
quickly and love to climb

·
Have improving
memories

·
Thrive on sensory
experiences and love water, sand, play dough, and clay

·
Enjoy glue, paint
and manipulating art materials

·
Love to dump and
fill

·
Enjoy throwing
things

·
Enjoy making
messes and sometimes helping clean up

·
Enjoy dramatic
play, dress up and dolls