Our Program

Hampshire College Early Learning Center’s Toddler Group is a socially minded, compassionate group of young children and continually learning adults, who aim to create a caring community, develop empowering self-help skills, and nurture creativity, empathy, and fun. As nine 15 month-2 year 10-month-old children have an immeasurable amount of energy, we spend a LOT of time outside, exploring the natural materials and open-ended activities that the playground, magical hideout, and greater Hampshire College campus provide us. While our activities vary with the emerging interests and skills of the children in our group, we have clear routines that give a sense of stability amidst the fun and chaos of toddlerhood. Children are in the group for one to two years and have ample opportunities for exploration and reciprocal learning.

We participate in a regular meeting circle time during which music and movement activities practice regulation, turn-taking, waiting, and repetition through music and movement together. We share group meal times and facilitate small group activities to enhance social learning, offer mentorship opportunities, and meet individual and group needs. The day also includes a much-needed rest time, and we have a separate nap room for children’s naps.

Toddler Rhythm of the Day:

• Welcoming 8:15-9:15 a.m. (hand washing, connecting with families, teachers, and children)
• Open-ended play outside or in the classroom with sensory play, art activities, and open-ended materials. Small group activities available in large studio/playroom
• Pottying
• Snack time (provided by home)
• Meeting time
• Outdoor adventures/walks/small group experiences
• More pottying
• Noon Lunch (also provided by home) 
• Quieter play/pottying
• 1 p.m. Naptime, followed by groggy reconnection time leading into play
• 3-3:30 p.m. reunion with families

The Early Learning Center recognizes that raising toddlers can be an exciting and demanding time. We also work toward creating a community of caregivers and establishing peer connections through transparency about home and school challenges and accomplishments. We offer frequent “come early, stay late” days for families to meet together at the end of the day, and provide adult-only caregiver forums to nurture adult relationships.

Our toddler program is deeply connected to our home at Hampshire College. We collaborate with Hampshire College professors and students on projects and show the capabilities young people have. We become connected with College student support teachers who gain experience and understanding of best teaching practices for children and enrich our program with their skills. We explore the campus at large and take walks on the trails. We are grateful to share and receive reciprocal joy from this community.

Teachers work alongside children to create an environment where toddlers have autonomy and their presence is the largest in our space. We observe and document the children’s learning through photography, videos, and written notes as reflection tools that help adapt our physical environment to respond to the group’s interests and needs. Toddlerhood is a time of building independence, figuring out boundaries, and developing communication and social skills.

Teachers scaffold children’s communication and problem-solving skills to create a strong community with one another. We provide space for children to experiment and test these skills independently from teachers as much as possible. When faced with challenging situations, teachers encourage children to seek help, comfort, and support from one another, rather than relying solely on the adults around them. We all benefit from the cohesion and confidence that emerges in children throughout toddlerhood.