2-Year-Old Classes

Excited for new adventures and armed with newfound physical prowess, two-year-olds are ready to take school by storm (for better or for worse). With so many interactive toys and manipulatives, they have several chances to role-play, get messy, and meet new friends as they learn about a world outside of themselves. Everyday the class ebbs and flows with a set routine of active and quiet times to make the most of a two-year-old's attention span and energy.

1. Free Play: As social beginners, the beginning of the day is often most challenging for two-year-olds as they adjust to separating from their caregivers and learn to be members of a larger group. A large chunk of time is set aside for free play, where students are free to move about the room to find activities that are developmentally appropriate. From the perfectly sized kitchen and paint easel to the ever-changing sensory and science tables, the two-year-olds learn by doing (almost always enthusiastically).

2. Circle Time: Circle time is a necessary span of downtime where children learn to sit quietly together, take turns, listen to stories and finger plays, and participate in music, name games, and felt board activities. There are typically two different circle times during the course of a school day.

3. Playground Time: Definitely a favorite time of day, playground time is where we "get the wiggles out". Going to the playground also the gives the students the opportunity to learn how to put their coats and hats on themselves (with the teacher and parent helping to zip up zippers and pull on mittens and boots). Once there, the two-year-olds plunge into the sandbox, shoot down the slides, sway on the swings, and gallop around the playground equipment.

4. Snack Time: To prepare for snack time, the two-year-old preschoolers are shown how to wash their hands properly, find a seat at the group table, and clear their plates when they are finished. Students are encouraged to express their needs (more water, another helping) as well as the beginnings of proper table etiquette, sharing, and cooperation.

5. Art Projects: While the students always have access to an assortment of art supplies during free play, having a set group project each day allows the teacher to watch and guide each student as they learn to squeeze glue, hold crayons, mold homemade playdough, and paint unique masterpieces. The art produced during this time is based on the process, not the result, and each student is encouraged to express themselves as they see fit.

6. Activity Room: The activity room is very popular with the two-year-olds, and they use every square inch of the room and the adjoining hallway. With smooth floors and appropriately-sized tricycles, the young students gain confidence in pedaling and balance. Since the activity room is a physical, yet intimate, space, the two-year-olds get to participate with each other in ways not usually seen in the classroom or the playground.

Learn more about age-appropriate behavior for two-year-olds.

To be eligible for enrollment in our two-year-old classes, children must be two years old by September 30th of the current school year. Students are not required to be potty-trained, and there is a bathroom in the classroom to facilitate toilet training.