EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
for children 2–5 years old
A Leading Toddler Program in Needham
Toddler Program Curriculum:
Ages 2.0–2.9
Teacher-to-Child Ratio: 2:9
Tobin Beaudet Schools offers a Toddler program designed to support children during this important stage of rapid growth and development. Children at this age learn most effectively in an environment that balances fun, exploratory play with gentle, intentional introductions to language, early math concepts, shapes, and colors.
With a strong focus on each child’s individual learning level, our teaching staff supports toddlers as they build foundational skills that foster curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning.
Literacy
Throughout the day, children are surrounded by books to explore independently and alongside their teachers. Looking at books and listening to stories supports early literacy development and helps children:
- Develop Beginning Reading Skills: Children begin to understand that print moves from left to right and top to bottom, that pictures help tell a story, and that stories remain the same each time they are read.
- Build Listening and Thinking Skills: Storytime strengthens listening, attention, sequencing, and early comprehension skills.
- Expand Vocabulary: Children learn new words and begin to understand the structure and rhythm of written language through listening to stories.
- Develop Storytelling Skills: As teachers read aloud using expression and inflection, children learn how stories are structured and how voice brings stories to life—fostering a love of books and reading.
Science & Math
Children explore materials independently and in small groups, engaging in hands-on science and math experiences that build early skills and curiosity about the world around them. These activities support children as they:
- Develop Early Math Skills: Children practice counting, sorting, and classifying by shape and size, such as counting shells, sorting leaves, and grouping rocks by type.
- Build Critical Thinking Skills: Teachers introduce new vocabulary and pose thoughtful questions like “How are these alike?” “How are they different?” “Is this bigger or smaller?” to encourage observation and reasoning.
- Build Confidence and a Love of Learning: As children explore familiar materials in new ways, they gain confidence through successful interactions with teachers and peers.
- Learn Through Monthly Themes: Organized, age-appropriate learning themes help children discover the world around them, the animals we share it with, and how things work.
Exploring Languages
Children are introduced to foreign languages early, when their brains are especially receptive to sound, rhythm, and non-verbal communication. Research shows that from birth, children are capable of learning multiple languages, and early exposure supports cognitive flexibility and communication skills.
- American Sign Language (ASL): Teachers introduce children to basic ASL through gestures and everyday routines. This non-verbal communication supports language development while also strengthening fine motor skills.
- Mandarin: A Mandarin teacher visits our school once a week and works with each classroom, introducing children to the sounds, tones, and basic concepts of the Mandarin language through songs, movement, and playful interaction.
Social Emotional Learning &
Celebrating Similarities & Differences
Through nurturing relationships and meaningful daily interactions, children develop a strong foundation for social-emotional growth. In a supportive and responsive environment, toddlers learn to:
- Explore and Follow Their Interests: Children begin making choices during free play, selecting activities that reflect their interests and curiosity.
- Share and Problem-Solve: As toddlers interact with peers, they are introduced to early concepts of sharing. With gentle guidance from teachers, they practice simple problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills.
- Build Trust and Self-Confidence: Toddlers thrive in a warm, nurturing environment where trusting relationships with caregivers allow them to feel safe, secure, and ready to learn.
- Name and Express Emotions: Children begin to connect words to their feelings—such as happy, sad, or excited—building emotional awareness and early communication skills.
Music, Movement & Art
Through art and music, children are encouraged to explore, create, and express themselves in meaningful ways. These experiences emphasize process over product and support creativity, communication, and confidence.
Art
Children have open access to a variety of art materials, allowing them to make choices, experiment freely, and explore their creativity. Through art, children:
- Focus on the Process: The experience of working with materials is valued more than the final product.
- Make Choices and Experiment: Children choose papers, paints, and tools as they explore different ways to apply materials.
- Build Descriptive Vocabulary: Children learn to describe their art using words such as soft, hard, squishy, smooth, rough, striped, and checkered.
Music
Music invites children to express themselves through sound, movement, and rhythm. Through music, children:
- Sing and Move: Children participate in musical “action songs,” building self-expression and coordination while developing a foundation for musical creativity.
- Expand Vocabulary: Just as in art, children learn language to describe sound, movement, and musical experiences.
Physical Education & Wellness
Movement and hands-on play are essential to early childhood development. Through purposeful fine and gross motor activities, children build strength, coordination, and confidence.
- Fine Motor Development
Playing with small toys, manipulatives, and blocks at tables or on the floor is a foundational part of early learning. These controlled hand movements help children strengthen the small muscles in their hands and fingers—skills that later support writing, self-care tasks, and independence. - Gross Motor Development
Through active play and movement-based experiences, children develop large muscle strength and coordination. Running, dancing, climbing, lifting, bouncing, and imaginative movement games help children learn how their bodies move and work together.
Children enjoy daily opportunities for gross motor play on our on-site playground for ages 2–5. When weather does not allow for outdoor play, we use our indoor multi-purpose room for yoga, dancing, and other gross motor activities.
Measuring Progress
We respect each child as an individual, recognizing that children learn and develop on their own unique timeline. Our teachers are trained early childhood professionals who thoughtfully observe, support, and document each child’s growth across developmental areas.
Teachers use ongoing observation, interaction, and documentation to understand each child’s strengths, interests, and emerging skills. This approach allows us to:
- Support children’s individual learning goals
- Plan developmentally appropriate experiences
- Meet children where they are while gently encouraging growth
- Communicate progress clearly and meaningfully with families
Children’s development is observed across areas such as language, social-emotional growth, cognitive skills, physical development, and independence, ensuring a well-rounded understanding of each child’s progress.