Frog Room

We view each child as a whole person capable of fulfilling his/her own potential. Toddlers are extraordinary capable human beings who are in the developmental process of figuring "it" all out. These years are incredibly important because the development of self-concept is the key issue for toddlers. In working out who they are in relation to themselves and other people, they are doing some crucial work in developing socialization strategies, basic language skills, cognition, physical ability, and emotional well-being. The best, most efficient way for toddlers to do this "work" is through play. They soak up every experience, catalog it, and then use it to develop complex theories, ideas, and concepts. So, we see our job as providing them with a rich, safe, and highly accessible environment where they are invited to explore, examine, discover, and have fun, including getting messy if that's what it takes. We try to maintain a "controlled environment" where just about anything (within reason) can and does happen. We take many of our leads for planning curriculum from the children themselves. We have a broad range of developmental ages, stages, and abilities in our room, so we have to provide a wide range of activities and experiences. We try at every step to maximize the opportunities the children have with us and to operate within a range that is comfortable for them while simultaneously encouraging them to stretch and grow.