Toddler Care | Bright Beginnings Preschool

Why Choose Bright Beginnings Toddler Program?

Ages 16 months-2 years Monday-Friday 7:30am -5:30pm
  • We have so appreciated the love and care from all the teachers at Bright Beginnings, Crozet. They really helped Oscar, who was anxious about starting school, feel welcome and supported. Thank you!

    - Kiki Armengol and Matt Williams, Oscar's Parents (Toddler)
  • We are so happy with Bright Beginnings! Paul has grown so much since starting and is full of smiles whenever he heads into his classroom!

    - Kellie & Jeremy Keyser, Paul's Parents (Toddler)
  • Great program. Caring and friendly staff.

    - Isaiah Garfias, Matteo's Mama (Toddler)
  • My daughter loved the friendly staff at Bright Beginnings and I was very happy that they made learning fun for her. I love when she comes home singing a new song or saying her alphabet or counting.

    - Catherine Gineste, Margot's Mama (Toddler)
  • We loved the infant-toddler department at Mill Creek with Ms. Jessie, Ms. Cindy, and Ms. Amber.

    - Jennifer Hoffman, Addeline's Mama (Toddler)
  • Ms. Aurora is always so positive and friendly. She is super creative and leads the kids in fun craft activities. Ms. Kristin is such a gentle and kind person. It is a pleasure to see her and hear her “good morning!” at drop-off!

    - Jessica Lukens, Bennett's Mama (Toddler)
  • We have been pleased with Seth’s growth, language development, love of music and dancing, art projects, and relationships with peers. Just shy of two years old, it is impressive, and to his teachers’ credit, that he has learned names of classmates and even talks a little of what he did at school. I hope he will be reunited with his friends at a later time, I know he will miss them.

    - Juli-Anne & Phillip Wade, Seth's Parents (Toddler)
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We Know Toddlers!

1.) We Teach Toddlers!

  • There is probably no cuter stage, nor more challenging group than our lovable, engaging and passionate toddlers. We teach toddlers the way we’d want our children taught: with patience, love and a lot of paint! Along the way we ensure individual needs are met and your toddler settles into a calm routine.

2.) We Keep Toddlers Busy and Fully Engaged!

  • Toddlers are typically “into everything” and move at the speed of lightning so we make sure to over plan- toddlers need plenty of exciting activities but tire of them quickly!

3.) Toddlers are intense do well within a structured environment

  • They are curious, emotional and demanding and their highs and lows are exhausting for parents and teachers. By keeping our toddlers on a predictable routine with ample time for quiet play, free choices and outdoor play. Toddlers love routines!

4.) Toddlers Want to Interact!

  • Toddlers have lots of questions and are becoming competent in language acquisition and are developing receptive and expressive language which means teachers continually model correct word pronunciation, ask questions, model sentence structure and vocabulary.

5.) Toddlers get Bored Easily!

  • They learn very quickly and then move on to the next amazing moment to explore so we plan activities that take between 5-15 minutes.Toddlers love to explore with all their senses, usually all at once!

6.) ...But they Love Repetition!

  • Toddlers love to practice what they learn and we provide lots of time to revisit activities. For instance, working with various paint brushes is just plain mesmerizing!

7.) Toddlers let Mommy and Daddy Know they Need More!!

  • Developmentally, toddlers are beginning to see themselves as separate from their parents and look towards their peers as potential playmates. This makes placing your toddler in a strong pre school program essential. We plan activities to ensure toddlers can have plenty of nurturing, time to explore alone and lots of opportunity to play with peers.

8.) We Wrote the Book on Toddlers-Toddler Explorer Curriculum!

  • Our founder, Kathe Petchel, wrote our Toddler Explorer Curriculum which plans activities around three key areas: Gross motor, Music and Movement, Practical Living and Self Help Skills and Fine motor and Art. Toddlers work in small groups and play in the three curriculum areas during each day. Most activities last about 10 minutes. Parents are provided a monthly curriculum calendar which details specific activities for each week.

9.) Our Toddler Teachers are Patient, Creative and Flexible!

  • It’s essential that toddler teachers fully embrace the unique wonder of a toddler. Some days, lesson plans must be adjusted to allow the teacher to better meet needs that arise.

10.)Toddlers Access their Emotions Quickly and with Great Energy!

  • One of the most endearing qualities of a toddler is the ability to explore a wide range of emotions, sometimes within a minute! They are optimistic about their skills, many times don’t fully have the gross or fine motor muscles and eye hand coordination to succeed right away. This leads to frustration, particularly since language development is emerging continually. We help toddlers name their feelings and provide them avenues to express their frustrations.

Primary Goals for Toddlers:

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  • provide consistent, nurturing and experienced caregivers
  • provide consistent daily routine in classroom
  • work as a team with parents maintaining child’s schedule, appropriate placement
  • limited visitors and distractions in classroom
  • plenty of time outside to explore
  • numerous tactile and sensory exploration opportunities
  • encourage “side by side” play with teacher supervision
  • teacher modeling all activities to ensure optimal safety and one on one
  • over and over activities to gain confidence
  • encouraging expressing self with words
  • strong communication with parents (daily written notes home, face to face, weekly newsletter)

“I’m a widower with a 3 year old daughter who lost her mother before she was one. I say that so you understand how important my child is to me. Carolyn has been coming to Bright Beginnings for almost two years. I’ve seen her grow, learn and play. And more importantly, I trust them with my child. I can think of no greater thing to say."-Don Bobbet, Forest Lakes

What Makes the Toddler Exploration Program is so successful?

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  • Our Toddler Exploration curriculum was written and developed by our fantastic Founder, Kathe Petchel, who continually updates it each year!
  • It’s core goal is to keep toddlers moving and stimulated throughout the day within small groups and a balance of one on one time alone or with the teacher, side by side play with friends and small group child initiated learning.
  • Toddlers have a short attention span and are into everything- we honor their business and challenge them to fully engage!
  • The continual movement concept has merit- toddlers play till they drop!
  • Because we get to know each child so well, we individualize and either shorten or extend an activity so one friend can play longer in a favorite area while another can move on!
  • It balances active and quiet play with teacher guided and child initiated activities- both important for Toddler development!