Our Toddler Group
Toddlers are active movers and busy learners who are curious about how the world works! At this age, children are learning how to express their big feelings, learn independence, and understand their limits. But there are some challenging behaviors that come with this curiosity, such as tantrums, boundaries being tested, and tough transitions. But this is all normal for their development!
In our school, we use positive guidance strategies to help our toddlers feel safe and understood. Here are some that can be used at home to help continue success by supporting their confidence and consistency between both environments!
Guidance Activities for Home
1. Choice Time
We offer simple choices during our daily routine such as “Do you want to read one book or two?” or “Do you want to go to art or sensory table?”
Benefits: reduction of power struggles and encourages cooperation
2. Emotional Coaching
When your child is upset:
a. Get on their level
b. Name the feeling they are experiencing
c. Offer them supports
Ex. You’re feeling sad because play time is over. I’m here to help you.”
Benefits: your successful name the emotion to build into their vocabulary and help them self-regulate.
3. Redirection through Movements:
When your child is becoming frustrated, offer
them a physical activity such as
a. wiping down a table
b. carrying part of the groceries
c. helping clean up an area
4. Transition Countdown
Give a warning before transitioning into the next activity
a. uses a timer, verbal reminder, or even a song!
Example of a verbal reminder. “Five more minutes. Then we eat.”
Benefits: Toddlers can mentally prepare for the transition due to the advance notice and help reduce any frustration during these challenging times.
Guidance Strategies We Use:
We provide the students with choices, transition preparedness, and acknowledge their feelings.
Choices: Toddlers crave independence but need clear limits still. We offer them two choices to empower the toddler on independence while we are also still in control.
Transitions: During clean up, mealtimes and other transitions are a difficult part for toddlers. Therefore, we give them advance notice, so they know what to expect.
E.g. “Two more minutes until we clean up.”
Acknowledgment of feelings: Toddlers act out because they don’t have the vocabulary to express their emotions. We name the child’s feelings to help them understand and feel supported.
E.g. “You are feeling frustrated because you didn’t have a turn yet with the truck.”
Redirection: We guide our students to an appropriate alternative instead of telling them what they shouldn’t be doing. With redirection it helps toddlers learn the boundaries in their environment while also letting them be curious learners.
e.g. if a child kicks a truck, we will say “Trucks are for driving. Let’s kick a ball instead.”
Children that experience consistent guidance in their home life and learning environment can feel more secure and confident! positive guidance teaches toddlers skills in cooperation, emotional awareness, and problem solving. Thank you for partnering with us to support your toddler growth in development! If you have any questions, please reach out to us. We are a team!