Creative Arts and Music: At this stage, pre-toddlers are introduced to sensory exploration through art and music. They engage in activities like coloring with crayons, finger painting, and exploring textures in art projects. Simple songs and nursery rhymes are part of their daily routines, helping to develop language skills and a sense of rhythm. Pre-toddlers may also begin to explore basic instruments and participate in music-related movement, helping them coordinate their bodies with the sounds they hear.

Physical and Well-Being: Pre-toddlers in this age group are refining their gross motor skills. As they gain confidence in walking, running, and climbing, we encourage activities that promote balance, coordination, and muscle strength. Simple games like pushing and pulling toys, crawling through tunnels, or climbing soft structures help them build physical confidence. Fine motor skills are developed through activities like stacking blocks, holding utensils, and manipulating small objects, which contribute to hand-eye coordination.

Language and Literacy: Language development is a key focus for pre-toddlers at this stage. They begin to understand simple words and phrases and start to imitate sounds and gestures. As their cognitive and muscle control improves, pre-toddlers begin to use basic words to express their needs and thoughts. We support early language skills by reading books aloud, encouraging simple conversations, and pointing out objects and animals to increase vocabulary. Storytime becomes an important part of the day, and pre-toddlers may start recognizing pictures and associating them with words.

Mathematics and Science: In this phase, pre-toddlers are introduced to foundational concepts of math and science through exploration and hands-on activities. They begin to recognize colors, shapes, and patterns in the world around them. Counting objects, sorting by color or size, and matching shapes help build basic math skills. Science concepts are explored through sensory activities, such as observing how objects move, feeling textures, or watching water flow, which fosters their understanding of cause and effect.

Social and Emotional Well-Being: As pre-toddlers become more aware of themselves and others, they start to explore relationships and develop social skills. They begin to engage in parallel play, observing and imitating peers, and may begin to show interest in sharing or taking turns with toys. Positive reinforcement is used to encourage good behavior, and caregivers model emotional regulation by acknowledging feelings and teaching ways to express emotions appropriately. Independence starts to grow, with pre-toddlers enjoying simple self-care tasks like feeding themselves or attempting to dress with assistance.

Cognitive Skills: Pre-toddlers at this age are becoming more intentional in their play and learning. Their attention spans are growing, and they begin to make decisions about their activities. Simple problem-solving tasks, like fitting shapes into corresponding holes or completing basic puzzles, help develop cognitive skills. They may also begin to show preferences for certain activities or toys, which reflects their growing ability to make choices and understand their likes and dislikes.