It Takes A Special Person to Work with Toddlers

Toddlers (typically the age between 1 and 2 1/2 years) are a very active stage of life to work with in the classroom environment. Most teachers either love or hate to work with toddlers. The teachers that choose to work with this rambunctious group are sometimes referred to as a little off themselves; I like to refer to them as very special people (I include myself in that group). The toddler age is the age in which children are developing at rapid speed.

Everyday it seems that, they are doing something they were not doing the previous day, or even the previous hour. This is why it is so important that we meet the needs of this age group.

The following are ways in which we can make the most of our toddlers development:

• Choose activities that match the skill level of the toddlers

• Make the room inviting and functional by providing furnishings and materials that are developmentally appropriate such as the Wood Designs' Tot Line of furniture.

• Separate the quiet interest areas (reading) from the active interest areas (climbing area/imaginative play area)

• Cover outlets, close the bathroom door and put safety locks on low cabinets and avoid toy boxes with heavy lids

• Provide plenty of open shelves for the children's materials by using the AAWD14900 Tot Pass Through Shelf or the AAWD40400 Infant Pull-Up Storage

• Label the shelves with both words and pictures

• Provide both indoor and outdoor large physical activity with equipment that is developmentally appropriate, such as the AAWD19900 Balance Beam or the AAWD12000 Rock A Boat

• Supply proper cushioning under any large muscle equipment

• Give toddlers words for everything they do

• Set simple and basic routines for toddlers so that they can enhance their sense of security by knowing what to expect throughout the day

• When bathroom fixtures (sinks and toilets) are not child-sized, use adapted equipment to help with the toileting process such the AAWD21200 Step-Up-N-Wash for the sinks or as a training seat for toilets

• To minimize the wait and to avoid toddlers from being bored, provide enough quantity and variety of materials so that the children do not have to wait to use

• Enjoy the toddlers

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