Infant & Toddler
The infant/toddler wing at St. Joseph's is a hit with our visitors. Who can resist the beauty, promise and joy of these 6-week to 2-year olds? Children are nurtured and supported in these earliest stages of development. The curriculum is developmentally inspired in 6-month increments and individualized for each child.
Staff are conscious of lesson plans that include exposure to experiences that support their development.
Examples of lessons for infants may include the following activities:
- Physical - Following objects with eyes and encouraging the child to take and hold objects
- Language - Describing the world around them. Introducing child to sign language
- Cognitive - Awareness of what will happen next with verbal communication
- Social-emotional - Smiling and cooing with infant and encouraging them to interact with each other
Examples of lessons for toddlers may include the following activities:
- Library/language - Reading stories and turning them into songs
- Music - Using rhythm instruments to form patterns of music
- Manipulative/fine motor - Playing with rain sticks, stacking blocks
- Outdoor/physical - Climbing up stairs, sliding down slide
- Art experience - Drawing with markers, finger painting
- Sensory and science - Play with material (water, sand, other materials) at sensory table
- Self-help skills - Practice eating with a spoon, self-serving skills and clean-up experiences
