Our toddlers make for lively and exciting days at Petit!
As children reach this age, they become more active in their daily experiences, and their social connections grow. It is a time when children are developing and asserting their independence.
At Petit, we provide a nurturing environment for toddlers, with countless occasions for discovery, fun and social learning, as we know toddlers flourish and thrive as they absorb the world around them.
Toddler development
Each toddler grows and learns at his or her own pace.
They reach milestones at different times and in different fashions.
Each part of a toddler’s day is recognised as an opportunity for learning and development. Routine times for meals, sleep, toileting, and nappy changing are all seen as key ritual moments to slow down and create warm connections between an educator and child. Our practices are informed by contemporary research to deliver an optimum education and care environment for your child.
We observe and reflect on your toddler’s development using these as guidelines:
| Physical |
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| Social |
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| Emotional |
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| Cognitive |
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| Language |
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Our educators access specialised training to further their knowledge and understanding of toddler age children, and how to support and celebrate their active holistic learning styles. Our toddler learning programs go beyond a simple foundational understanding of toddler developmental milestones and engage with educational theories to realise the unrestricted potential of children’s creativity and thinking skills!
Schema theory to understand toddler behaviour and learning
Schemas are patterns of repeated behaviour which allow for people to explore and express developing ideas and thoughts (Atherton & Nutbrown, 2013).
Schemas are especially visible in toddlers’ play and exploration and are one of the key concepts our Educators utilise in their observations and planning for engaging play experiences in toddler learning environments at Petit.
Schemas include explorations such as:
Schemas support all areas of toddler learning. When children are engaged in schema play, Educators intentionally introduce language to grow their understanding and vocabulary, and this provides key opportunities for toddlers’ language and social skill development, and introduction to early science and mathematical concepts too! For example:
When children twirl around in a circle, roll down a hill or just spin the wheels on a toy car they’re exploring their rotation schema. In these instances, Educators might share in the child’s delight and curiosity and comment “I can see you spinning”; “After you roll, do you feel dizzy?”; “Spin those wheels, faster, faster! I wonder what else might spin like a wheel?”
The Petit difference
In addition to our quality education and care program for toddler age children, we offer the following:
- New, clean, purpose-built centres
- Indoor and outdoor playscapes and learning environments
- High quality educators and regular opportunities for continued professional learning
- Menus designed in association with child nutritionist – all meals prepared fresh on-site
- Inclusion of nappies, wipes, sunscreen, sunhat, linen (linen provided at certain Centres)
- Storypark app for documenting and communicating important moments and milestones
- Secure PIN entry to the building
- Natural elements and play resources – we shy away from plastic
Individual journey portfolios
In addition to our use of the Storypark app, we create an individual learning portfolio for each child.
We create a collection of:
- Work samples
- Observation records and notes
- Group project activities
- Photos
- Videos
- And more
Documenting your child’s learning journey is an essential part of our curriculum.
It allows Educators to make the children’s developmental progress visible while also providing a communication port for families to share in their child’s day and education.
What else?
If you have any questions about our centres or programs, please reach out to us today.
You can also view our Frequently Asked Questions here.