Dear Toddler Parents,

Welcome to the Toddler classes! Toddler classes have been held at the Museum for the past eleven years and we are proud to continue this tradition.

Please dress your child to get a bit messy while at the program. We believe that the task of learning is often a bit untidy. We want the children to explore the world and that includes paints, sand, water and other gloppy things! As you probably remember, infants explored the world with their mouths and through taste. Toddlers, we believe, are very tactile and explore the world through touch.

We are very comfortable with kids moving around during a story or a song. In fact, we expect it! Child development follows a fairly predictable pattern, but the timetable for each stage varies from individual to individual! If your child seems more than restless, feel free to leave for a while and try to re-enter for the next activity.

We are also firm believers in process, not product, and most crafts and activities will be very open ended. The process of painting is an example of that. The experience of boldly colored paint gliding on the paper is what we want the kids to enjoy. Some kids will notice the relationship between their movements and the placement of the paint. Others might be intrigued with the colors. Still other kids might enjoy the way the paint feels on their hands! We believe there is a lot to learn through the process.

The Toddler attends alone class is a good choice for older toddlers, children that have been at the Museum frequently and feel comfortable here, or toddlers that need some encouragement to begin to learn to separate from their primary caregiver a bit. For that reason we ask that parents to please walk away from the window while their child adjusts to the class. Voices can easily be heard inside the classroom and cause distraction to the children and teacher. Use the window for a quick peek at the group, please. If your child is new to the Museum, try attending a few classes with them.

We look forward to toddler playgroup and getting to know you and your child(ren) better. Please feel free to call us if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Christy Hammond
Director of Education

Diane Dusza
Museum Educator