Our 2s program is designed to help children transition from the sensory motor world to an increasingly social world. Children learn by exploring the materials, ideas, and people in the world around them as they build a sense of themselves as individuals and as members of a group. With an emphasis on social-emotional development and problem-solving skills, Big and Tiny’s curriculum helps children build a sense of self, discover their role within a classroom community, and recognize and appreciate our differences.
Program Objectives
An immersive learning experience
Our 2s program helps your child transition from the familiar world of home to a new community of learning, teachers, and friends in a safe and caring environment. Using inquiry-based learning, students build their comprehension, critical thinking, and communication skills. As your child’s language is increasing, your toddler is beginning to form mental images for things, actions, and concepts.
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Increasing solving problem abilities, performing mental trial-and-error instead of having to manipulate objects physically
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Understanding the relationships between ideas, to grasp the process of cause and effect and to improve their analytical skills
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Observing, questioning, and investigating certain topics and concepts
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Matching shapes, comparing, sorting, and organizing skills
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Recognizing the impact of their words and actions
Cognitive Development
Our goal is to help children in the 2s program solve problems and learn fundamental concepts. Through open-ended questions and visual thinking strategies, children will grow their vocabulary and start putting together simple sentences and develop conversational skills.
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Using language to solve problems and express their emotions
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Growing their vocabulary as they start to put short sentences together
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Asking questions
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Responding to directed group discussions using visual thinking strategies
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Following simple instructions and rules
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Following and adjusting to daily routines
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Start recognizing letters and some words
Language
& Communication
Social-Emotional
Growth
Teachers at the 2s program provide young learners a sense of comfort, safety, confidence, and encouragement. They teach toddlers how to form friendships, communicate emotions, and deal with challenges. Building strong, positive relationships also helps children develop trust, empathy, compassion, and a sense of right and wrong.
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Learning to share, take turns, resolve conflicts, and experience the joy of friendship
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Showing affection, empathy, and a wide range of emotions and understanding the feeling of others
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Engaging in pretend and imaginative play that helps them build language and social skills
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Developing autonomy and independence as they continue to explore their interests
Cognitive Development
Fine & Gross Motor
Skill Development
As the 2-year-olds are just beginning to have better control over their hand and finger movements, your toddler's artwork is also drastically improving. Your child’s muscles begin to develop, which improves their climbing and running skills as well. At Big and Tiny, we provide age-appropriate equipment and activities for them to fully develop this new skills in a safe and fun environment.
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Jumping, running, walking backwards and balancing
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Climb up and go down of the slide in the play structure
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Pedaling tricycles and ride on cars
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Manipulating a wide range of supplies and materials to create art projects such as crayons, beads, scissors
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Developing more independence in their daily activities such as using a fork, washing hands, potty training, dressing up and cleaning up
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Stacking toys and solving puzzles
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Drawing more defined marks, including circles and lines that are horizontal, vertical, diagonal, or curved
A day for the Twos
Let’s say hello! – Arrival
When children first arrive to Big and Tiny, they store their belongings in their cubby, remove their shoes, say goodbye to their grown-ups for the day and greet their friends. Practicing this transition from home to school every day helps your little one discover the excitement of healthy independence.
Let’s meet! – Morning time!
Children gather as a whole group and review the calendar and contribute to the expectations and plans for the day. This includes the job list with the responsibilities for the day (feed the pets or take care of the plants for instance). Community time often incorporates movement, songs and social-emotional practice games to help understanding the emotions of others.
Let’s explore! – Proposals for discovery
Every day Big and Tiny educators stage thoughtful work centers around the learning space as proposals for concepts of exploration, which children are free to explore and decide independently what they would like to focus on and discover. Experiences include art, sensory, science, math, literacy, blocks, sand, and water. During this time, teachers assess, observe, and document each student’s progress and interactions.
Let’s eat! – Snack
Let’s build! – and destroy!
Children will work on organizing and categorizing objects and toys, and creating simple structures using different materials.
Let’s practice! – Practical life skills
Many practical life activities are incorporated throughout the day to allow the children to understand the world around them. They learn a routine and procedure that is consistent and can be followed at home, too.
Let’s read and share! – Read-a-loud
Interactive story time take place at different times of the day. These books are selected according to the topics that the children are working on. Children will become familiar with books and rhymes, repeating words and phrases from different stories, helping them grow their vocabulary and sentences. Open-ended questions and group discussions allow children develop their own ideas and opinions as well as their own narratives and explanations by connecting ideas or events. Interactive story time is led by the Master Teaching Artist in residence.
Let’s eat! – Snack/lunch & socialization
Children come together for a nutritious meal. Educators encourage them to observe and discuss their various meals with each other, sparking thoughtful conversations about health and sustainability.
Let’s take a rest! – Nap time (optional)
Learning and playing can be exhausting! Big and Tiny knows how important sleeping is for a young child’s growth, development, and knowledge synthetization. Optional nap and rest time is offered for children.
Let’s play and move! – Outdoor play & active learning
Children develop large motor functions through group games, outdoor play, dancing, and community walks around the neighborhood. Appreciation for the natural world is developed through gardening, observation of seasonal changes, and exploration of living things. This time includes right brain / left-brain exercise, literacy development, and social-emotional growth.
Let’s make a mess! – Art Lab
Art is one of the many ways children express themselves and communicate their feelings. During this time children engage and experiment with different art forms and materials. We provide open-ended art activities that help children explore and use their creativity.
Let’s reflect! – End-of-day reflections
Group gathering to reflect on their work and possibilities for the next day. Time to share connections, questions and ideas. This time often incorporates an exercise in mindfulness, gratitude, and guided movement.
Let’s say goodbye! – Dismissal routines
To transition to go home at the close of the day, children work together to tidy up, change their shoes, gather their belongings and say goodbye. Children are encouraged to share their various projects from the day with their grown-ups.
