Two-Year Old Program Overview

There can be a significant developmental difference between a Two and a Two and Half-Year Old, so our Two-Year Old program is separated into young 2’s (Spring and Summer birthdays) and 2 ½’s (Fall and Winter birthdays).

The primary goals for children in these programs are to ease the transition from home to preschool, instill a positive attitude concerning school, provide ample opportunities for socialization, and to foster a developing sense of independence and cooperative play. Children are free to choose among dynamic and engaging activity centers that may relate to the unit of study, target a specific skill or concept, or that allow for open-ended exploration of materials. Through indirect guidance, careful observation, modeling, and meaningful interactions, Teachers guide children to share, take turns, show concern for others’ feelings as well as ways to express their own feelings and needs appropriately. During free play, Teachers facilitate the children’s play and interactions, encourage appropriate use of materials, or work one-on-one on a more involved project, a skill builder, or an assessment.

Through hands-on experiences with a variety of materials and manipulatives, the children develop the fine motor skills and hand strength necessary for cutting with scissors and a correct pencil grip. Emerging literacy, language and communication skills are developed through familiar songs and rhymes, story time, finger plays, thematic projects, and interactions with peers and Teachers. Even snack time can be an opportunity to form relationships, expand vocabulary and build understanding as Teachers and students identify their peers, discuss the shape of a cracker or the color of their fruit, or listen to a book. Children form early mathematical concepts by classifying common objects, identifying parts of their body, grouping by attribute (texture, size, weight, temperature), and experimenting in sensory and block play. Students are exposed to basic shapes, colors, and number concepts from 1 to 10. Weekly cooking projects integrate language, math (measuring ingredients, everyone stirs 1-2-3 ), vocabulary (salt is coarse, flour is soft ), and science (what happens when we mix yellow and blue ?) During Circle Time, the children sing a Welcome song to greet their friends, review the agenda for the day, share a book or flannel board story related to the topic or theme of study. Circle Time is lengthened as the children learn to attend for longer periods of time. Adults support the children’s growing sense of independence and self-help skills in washing hands, toileting, and dressing. Activities such as cleaning up toys, having a classroom job (messenger, line leader ), and being respectful of classroom materials foster being a responsible member of the class. The 2’s and 2 ½’s participate in our School-wide special events, (Dad/Special Date Night, Fall Harvest, Snow Days, Grandparent/Special Friend Days, Western Week, Week of the Young, Fiesta)

Children in the 2’s are not required to be toilet trained at the start of the school year. 2 ½ year olds should begin toilet training in the summer, with the goal of being toilet trained by the start of the school year.

2 and 2 ½ year olds have a choice of 2-day (Tuesday/Thursday) or 3-day (Monday/Wednesday/Friday) programs. The student to teacher ratio in the 2-year old program is 8:2, and 8-10:2 in the 2 ½ year-old program.