Wombats Curriculum (18 - 36 Months)
Creating a curriculum for toddlers in childcare is about fostering their development through a balance of structured activities, exploration, and play. Toddlers learn best in an environment that encourages their curiosity and provides opportunities for them to develop socially, emotionally, physically, and cognitively. Here's a simple framework for a toddler childcare curriculum:
- Gross Motor Skills: Encourage running, jumping, climbing, and dancing. Activities like obstacle courses, riding tricycles, and playing catch help strengthen large muscles.
- Fine Motor Skills: Provide activities like stacking blocks, coloring, drawing, and playing with playdough to develop hand-eye coordination.
- Problem-Solving: Offer puzzles, sorting activities (like shape or color sorting), and building blocks to stimulate thinking and reasoning skills.
- Memory Games: Simple memory or matching games (like "What’s Missing?" or memory card games) can enhance memory and concentration.
- Storytime: Reading aloud with picture books helps with vocabulary building. Choose stories with repetitive phrases or rhyming.
- Songs & Rhymes: Songs with motions or hand gestures can boost language and help with memory. Examples include “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” and “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.”
- Conversation: Encourage toddlers to talk by asking open-ended questions and allowing them to express themselves.
- Sharing and Turn-Taking: Create group activities or games where toddlers can practice sharing and taking turns, such as a group art project or a simple game.
- Feelings & Emotions: Use books or puppet shows to talk about different feelings and how to express them.
- Independence: Let toddlers make simple choices (like picking out their snack or toy) to foster a sense of independence and confidence.
- Art & Craft: Provide materials for finger painting, drawing, and collage-making. Allow toddlers to freely explore and express themselves creatively.
- Music & Movement: Introduce simple instruments (like maracas or tambourines) and encourage toddlers to make music or dance.
- Hands-on Exploration: Set up sensory bins with materials like rice, pasta, or water to let toddlers explore through touch.
- Daily Schedule: Toddlers thrive on routine, so having a consistent daily schedule that includes time for meals, naps, play, and learning activities helps them feel secure.
- Transitions: Prepare toddlers for transitions (e.g., from playtime to mealtime) with simple songs or visual cues.
- Arrival & Free Play:
- Circle Time:
- Snack Time:
- Learning Activity: (arts, sensory play, puzzles, etc.)
- Outdoor Play:
- Lunch:
- Nap/Quiet Time:
- Afternoon Play: 30-45 mins of structured or free play
- Closing Circle: (story, review of the day, or song)