Gross Motor Skills: Each day, weather permitting, we take the children outside to run, jump, ride tricycles, and play in the Tot Tree on the infant/toddler playground. Those who are not yet mobile play with small toys on mats or blankets on the grass. We take the children on walks in the stroller as well. Indoors, the children have the opportunity to bounce in one of our two Jumperoos, throw balls, and pull up on the musical gym. (Click for pictures of the children at play.) We work with the children to develop muscles in their arms, legs, and abdomen that are necessary for sitting, crawling, and walking. The children who are unable to walk have supervised "tummy time" daily. Each child is demonstrating superb gross motor skill development.

Fine Motor Skills: We provide the children with toys and manipulatives that specifically focus on fine motor skill development. They have the opportunity to push buttons, turn knobs, grip small parts of larger toys, and shake rattles. When it seems appropriate for individual children, we teach them to feed themselves with spoons. Children over twelve months of age color with crayons and markers regularly as well. 

Art: Children over twelve months of age (or younger when appropriate) have the opportunity to participate in art activities every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. They are learning to use crayons, markers, foam paint, finger paint, colored sand, glue, and stampers. We try to do special art projects for holidays and create keepsakes for parents to treasure from time to time.

Music: Every child in our class loves music. Those who can stand on their own like to bounce, bob, spin, and clap to the music we play on CD's. We hold the younger children as we dance to music and they really enjoy it. Our class is full of rattles and drums the children can use to create their own music. We sing songs throughout the day as well. We encourage parents to expose their children to various types of music at home whenever possible and to sing to them often. Do not feel self-conscious-children don't mind if you can't carry a tune!

Books: Children are never too young to be read to. We read each of the babies daily. We have many books in the classroom that are available to children at all times. These books are rotated on a monthly basis. The children enjoy sitting in our laps and helping to turn the pages as we read. They love the "Touch and Feel" book collection because they can "pet" animals and experience the different textures of objects in the story.

Social and Emotional Development: We are always working toward expressing feelings appropriately. The children who are unable to speak learn to express themselves through sign language. This helps to lessen the frustration they feel when they cannot vocalize their needs and desires. We want to establish an environment where children crave positive attention and do not have to act out to attract attention. We encourage the older babies to interact with the younger, immobile children throughout the day. There are many difficult lessons to learn in the infant room: to touch the babies gently, not to step on the babies when they are playing on the floor, not to hit or bite, and to share toys with our friends.