• Welcome to the Toddler Classroom
• Curriculum
• Toddler Independence
• Forms and Paperwork

Dear Families,

Welcome to the toddler classroom!  This is a very exciting classroom and your child's independence will be nurtured and valued.  We would like to introduce ourselves to you and let you know a little about what to expect in our classroom.

Ms. Terri is the full-time lead teacher and Ms. Laura is the full-time assistant teacher.  Along with Terri and Laura will be a couple of part-time staff to assist with lunch time and afternoon care.  All of our staff members are committed to giving your toddler the best of care in a fun environment.

We know that sometimes it can be difficult to leave your little one and/or you might need to call and check on them during the day.  We want you to feel free to call whenever you need.  The phone number for the classroom is (336) 454-1126, ext. 50245 or (336) 334-4822, ext. 50245.  We do have an observation booth that you are welcome to go into at anytime and observe your child.  It is always quite exciting to watch them play when they don't know you are watching.  The observation booth is right beside our classroom (room #104).  Just make sure the light in the observation booth is off if the light is on in the classroom.  This way your child won't see you.  You are welcome to come and visit your child, but this is a difficult age for them to understand that you are just visiting and that it isn't time to go home.  We recommend using the booth to observe them and it won't disrupt their day.

There are many things that are different in the toddler classroom from the infant room and we will try to go over them for you.

Bottles and sippy cups:
There are no bottles in the toddler classroom.  Your child must be off the bottle (at least during the hours they are here) to be in the toddler classroom.  Our children drink from sippy cups that we provide.  There is no need for you to bring in a cup with your child.  Actually, if you do, we will need you to rinse it out, label it with your child's name and the date, and put it in your cubby.  This is a sanitation rule we must comply with.  Once your child reaches the age of about 18 - 20 months, we will begin to take the lids off of the sippy cups.

Diaper bags:
Unless you just need to carry one, there is no need to bring a diaper bag for your toddler.  There is a cubby provided for your child where you can keep a change of clothes and their coat.  There is probably not room for a diaper bag.  If you do bring a bag, please make sure there are no medications, lotions, etc. in the bag.  If so, we will have to take it out and lock it up.  This is also a sanitation requirement.

Medications, Diaper creams, and sunscreens:
As with the infant room, we are happy to use any of these items that you provide as long as your sign the necessary paperwork.  We cannot give over-the-counter medication without a note from the doctor giving the reason for the medication, how much medication and how long the medicine is needed.  All medications will be locked up.  Prescription medication can be given as long as it is in the original container with the prescription label on it and you sign the authorization form.  This includes inhalers and medication needed in breathing machines.   Diaper cream, lotion, and sunscreen do not require notes from the doctor, but they do require your signature on our permission slip.  For sunscreen, we ask that you apply the sunscreen before you bring them in the morning and we will re-apply the sunscreen after naptime.

Pacifiers:
For sanitation reasons, pacifiers are not allowed in the toddler classroom.  Please make sure you leave them in the car or at home.

Diapers and wipes:
Diapers are really the only thing you have to provide for your toddler.  You can bring in a large bag and we will keep you posted on when your counts get low.  If you choose, you can bring them in daily.  If you choose to bring them in daily, please make sure you supply enough for your child to be changed at least 4 times a day.  We will provide wipes unless your child needs a special type due to an allergy.

Pictures:
Please bring in pictures of your family for us to post around the room.  The children enjoy looking at pictures of their family.  Don't forget to include the extended family and the family pets.

Toys:
We ask that you do not let your child bring toys from home into the classroom.  If you have ever heard the toddler creed you know that everything belongs to a toddler.  We try to have multiple copies of the same toy to help with this issue and if your child brings in something and there is only one, it is going to be a problem.

Food from home:
Due to food allergies, we do not allow any food brought from home unless it is approved for a celebration.  We will provide all of the food that your child eats while they are here.  We will provide any items needed for food allergies and/or special diets.  We will just need the proper documentation for their file.  We will provide breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack each day.

In the toddler classroom, the teachers will work together to make activities developmentally appropriate for the toddler to learn and explore new or old things.  We have a schedule or a routine we follow, but we understand the need to be flexible.  We explore many different activities that give the children a chance to be creative.  It also provides them with many opportunities to learn or be independent.  Children will develop the ability to interact with other children of their age.  Children learn through play and by seeing examples.  Our goal is to increase positive growth in each developmental area.

Thank you for the opportunity to tell you about our fantastic classroom!!