Welcome to Handprints Toddler Program!
We believe that every child deserves the very best in care and education! In our Toddler Program our degreed / experienced teachers plan fun, educational activities that meet the needs of the every changing toddler. Our planned activities are not only developmentally appropriate,but also individualized for your child, and all activities follow the Texas Infant, Toddler, and Three Year Old Early Learning Guidelines.
Handprints curriculum Strong Foundations is a theme-based curriculum for toddlers focusing on the five learning domains:
Sensory, Social/Emotional, Cognitive, Motor Skills, Language
Sensory development is gained through activities that promote the exploration of all five senses. We recognize that young children learn best using their five senses. For example, the one sense that sends information directly to the brain is the sense of smell. Another example would be holding and touching a toddler, which is like sensory nourishment or food for the brain.
Social & Emotional development is about relationships. Children need loving interaction to help them build their self-esteem. Emotions play an important role in memory and motivation.
Cognitive development involves activities that promote thinking skills. Anything new causes the body to release adrenaline, which acts as a memory fixative, therefore unfamiliar activities are the brain’s best friends. Problem solving naturally fuels our self-esteem.
Gross Motor activities help develop the large muscles of the body. Children need to be given opportunities to develop these skills. Doing arm and leg movements that cross over from one side of the body to the other (cross-lateral movement) can have a dramatic effect on learning, because both sides of the brain are forced to communicate.
Fine motor activities not only stimulate children’s hands, but also stimulate their brains.
Language development begins with talking to a toddler. Talking helps to shape the brain for language. Responding to and understanding each child is important to language development. Children learn to talk not only by being talked to,but also by being listened to. For information to be stored in our long-term memory, the information must make sense,and it must have meaning.
We believe that children learn best through hands-on experiences, and our lesson plans reflect that. Since toddlers learn about the world around them by using their five senses, many of their daily adventures revolve around seeing, touching, smelling, hearing, and even tasting through a variety of educational exercises.
Thank you for choosing Handprints Childcare LLC! If you have any questions, PLEASE, do not hesitate to ask.