CWS Toddler Curriculum at a Glance
THE 3 E’S: FOUNDATIONS FOR EXCELLENCE
At Creative World School, our Toddler Curriculum is built around the 3 E’s: Education, Exploration, and Enrichment, guiding toddlers as they grow, discover, and create. At this stage, every experience is a chance to learn, and our classrooms are filled with opportunities to foster curiosity, promote independence, and spark joy. Through purposeful activities and play, toddlers are encouraged to explore their world, build essential skills, and lay the foundation for a lifetime of learning.
Education
Thinking + Questioning = Learning
LITERACY
In our classrooms, Toddlers are immersed in vocabulary through favorite songs, important discussions, and rich language play. They discover favorite books and begin to make important connections between the spoken and written word.
Math
Our Toddlers experience math by experimenting with materials in their world. We focus on their emerging understanding of shape, quantity, and measurement as we plan opportunities for them to explore math. Matching, sorting, and comparing objects is engaging for toddlers and provides opportunities for them to practice early math skills.
SCIENCE
Toddlers explore science through their senses. They investigate, test, observe, and draw conclusions based on what they discover as they handle and manipulate objects in their world. They need to explore and “test” over and over to formulate their conclusions.
Exploration
Hand’s On Discovery of our World
CREATIVE ART
Art at this age is in the exploration of materials, not the finished product. Children are encouraged to use their senses to experience the process of art as they paint, glue, and create!
SENSORY ACTIVITIES
Toddler classrooms have a sensory table to allow hands-on exploration of various textures and materials. You will be amazed at the variety of activities we provide to engage children and their senses.
OPEN ENDED MATERIALS
Open-ended materials can be manipulated and used in creative ways. Examples include boxes, fabric scraps, textured paper, loose parts, and more. Toddlers love to explore these materials and learn as they play.
Enrichment
The Spark that Inspires Imagination
PROPS
Toddlers are delighted by all types of props! The simplest addition can make them curious and excited. Our monthly themes come alive, and we encourage pretend play as we introduce new and exciting props. Hats, puppets, magazines, empty food containers…the possibilities are unlimited. We rotate these enrichments to capture toddlers’ interest and make each day new and exciting.
LEARNING GAMES
Our teachers love to make up playful toddler games! By dumping small toys into a basket or making a tower, they are demonstrating a new way of playing. These games are rich learning opportunities that encourage new discoveries. They provide opportunities for children to practice important social skills: sharing, turn-taking, listening, following directions, and empathy.
Top 5 Foundations for Toddler Development
Language Surge
Toddlers are at a stage where vocabulary grows rapidly. Through songs, stories, and interactive play, we foster a love for language and help expand their word knowledge every day.
Early Social Skills
Toddlers start to engage with others, learning foundational social skills like sharing, turn-taking, and empathy, setting the groundwork for future friendships and cooperation.
Sensory Exploration
This age is all about exploring the world through touch, sound, and sight. Our sensory activities encourage toddlers to engage with different textures and materials, building sensory awareness and curiosity.
Building Independence
Small choices, like picking a book or playing with a favorite toy, help toddlers begin to assert their independence, supported by teachers who encourage self-confidence and autonomy.
Motor Skill Development
From stacking blocks to clapping along to songs, toddlers strengthen fine and gross motor skills, laying the foundation for more complex physical activities as they grow.
A Day in the Life of a Toddler
Creative World believes in a balanced day for your child. We create the perfect mix between quiet and active times, large and small group learning, child-initiated activities, and teacher-facilitated activities to create a day full of learning and fun!
We make time to gather and share stories each day. Being together allows us to get to know our friends and play learning games. During this time, we also learn new songs and listen to music so we can sing and dance.
Read-alouds encourage new words with simple, repetitive stories and predictable text. Our youngest readers interact by pointing to pictures, making gestures and sounds, and even beginning to know what comes next in the story.
Family-style dining allows children to eat at their own pace in a familiar environment. We help children develop independence and good eating habits as teachers and children eat together, sharing good food and conversation.
Our classroom learning extends to the outdoors with a variety of interactive enrichments. Outside time is scheduled twice a day in an age-appropriate play area, designed with the highest standards for your child.
We are learning all day, every day! Throughout the day, we provide a variety of small group learning times and independent play in learning centers to give your child a variety of fun educational opportunities.
After lunch, we enjoy a calm atmosphere with dim lighting and a blanket from home. Children rest on assigned cots. While some nap, others may enjoy a good book or a quiet activity. We partner with you to coordinate this important routine for your child.
Ongoing Assessment
GUIDING EARLY MILESTONES AND DEVELOPMENT
Celebrating Early Milestones
Toddler development is full of rapid growth as language blossoms and new skills are gained. Our teachers carefully track each developmental step and share their latest accomplishments with you through daily updates on our CW App, keeping you connected to your child’s journey.
Personalized Learning with Focused Support
We believe that great teachers understand child development deeply and know each child’s strengths and interests. Through observation during play and interaction, our teachers monitor your child’s progress throughout the year. We also use a developmental checklist to ensure advancement in social-emotional, cognitive, and physical development. Weekly, we align our 3 E’s™ curriculum with your child’s unique goals to create a personalized learning plan that nurtures growth.
Documenting and Sharing Your Child’s Journey
Every child has a learning portfolio, capturing their educational journey with teacher notes, photos, reflections, and first creative projects. Twice a year, we hold portfolio showings to share your child’s progress, set new goals, and discuss strategies for continued development. This collaborative approach celebrates and supports your child’s learning experience.
Toddler Classroom Features
Our Toddler Classrooms are designed with your child in mind! Our inspiring, open spaces are just the right size to inspire and encourage young learners.
Small Group
Our Creative World toddler classroom group sizes are limited to ensure that our teachers are able to focus on individualized instruction and provide the highest quality of care to each and every child.
Toddler Ready
Our toddler classrooms are designed for children to explore and make choices about their play. We make sure children have access to a wide variety of fun and educational toys created just for toddlers.
Double Prevents Trouble
As toddlers are learning to share and play together, we provide duplicates of favorite toys to encourage important negotiations and limit the frustration of young toddlers.
Beginning Interest Centers
Our room is divided into separate learning zones that allow toddlers to begin turn-taking and more complex forms of play. These centers encourage different types of learning as children explore and learn to play independently or in small groups.
Just the Right Size
Our toddler classrooms are designed to fit their unique stage of development! Sinks and toilets are child-size and at their level to encourage independence with important developing skills as well as a safety precaution.
Enrolled families have access to the CW App for communication, reporting, photos, and more. The CW App is free to download from the App Store and Google Play.
