January 2010 News from Little Green Tree House

Preparing your child for the transition from the Infant classroom to the Toddler classroom
Erin Lyon, Director of Education

When your child is first enrolled at LGTH in the infant program it is very important that the teachers maintain the child's home schedule and routine while they are here with very individualized care. Parents and teachers communicate daily events and changes in infant's schedules, health, development, and moods. When your child transitions at fifteen months to the Toddler classroom, the schedule and routine becomes very different. The children are now participating in a true classroom setting.

Here are some differences you may notice as your child moves from the infant room to the toddler room:

� More consistent routines
Toddlers have very active bodies and minds and it is necessary that classroom routines are more consistent. There is still plenty of individualized care, like how your child likes to be soothed when he is upset or the best way to help him ease into a nap, but the toddler's day usually has consistent structure with everyone sleeping, eating, learning and playing at approximately the same time throughout the day.

� Slightly higher staff-to-child ratios
The state of Illinois mandates a 5-1 ratio for all Toddler classrooms. With our Toddler classrooms of 12, 13, and 14 children, we will always be maintaining a higher ratio than the state requires. With their growing independence from adults for things like bottle feeding and locomotion, a slightly higher ratio and group size are possible without sacrificing quality in care and education. The structure and routine in the toddler classroom ensures that each child has lots of one-on-one time, but also time to interact with other children and their environment, developing their growing social skills.

� Continued need for communication
Parents will still be receiving a daily seed just like in the infant classrooms; however, it will no longer be as detailed pertaining to feeding and changing because there are now set times for these activities. Some of the children will even begin to start the potty training process while in the Toddler classroom. In addition to the seeds parents will also still receive weekly classroom emails and lesson plans.

� Classroom setup
You will notice that the toddler classroom has much different equipment than the infant classrooms. There are now defined learning areas that include dramatic play, blocks, art, math, science and reading. All the new areas and toys are there to make sure your child is developing to their fullest potential. One other big change is the lack of cribs. Once a Toddler your child will now rest on a cot. This change is often a big concern for parents but we are always pleasantly surprised by how well children adapt to the difference.

Ways you can help your child make an easy transition from Infants to Toddlers

1.) Get your child accustomed to the schedule of one nap per day. In the Toddler rooms nap time is after lunch and usually begins around 12:15 pm and lasts until 2-3 pm.

2.) Help your child to self soothe themselves to sleep. While the teachers will do all they can to help your child fall asleep the more independent they are in the process the easier it is on everyone in the room.

3.) Get your child used to eating at the same time. In the Toddler classroom they eat morning snack at 10 am. They have lunch at 12 pm and they eat afternoon snack at 3 pm.

4.) Teach your child how to use a small cup as well as a spoon and fork. In our classrooms we eat "family style" this means that we all eat together at the table and with the teachers modeling appropriate table manners and use of utensils.

While the teachers will help as much as they can with those struggling with these skills the more practice they have in advance the easier it will be on your child and the teacher.

You are always welcome to have the opportunity to speak with the transitioning teachers and/or Directors if you desire for extra guidance or communication about the transitional process.