For 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.
For Pre-School Parents
The Children’s Museum is excited to provide programming for your pre-school aged child. There are a few points of information that we would like to make you aware of.
We ask that you make very effort to arrive on time. Late arrivals can be disruptive for the group, difficult for the child entering, and the flow of the program is altered. Many times we have “wait-listed” parents standing by for an opening. We know that leaving the house in the morning can be difficult with young children, but we ask for your understanding. The Museum opens at 9:30, so you are most welcome to arrive early and spend a few minutes playing before the class begins.
Please make every attempt to have your child to attend the class alone. We understand that some kids need to transition to attending alone, and that is fine. The preschool class is set up as an independent group.
Also, we want to remind you that we allow parents who wish to, to drop off their child while they attend a 60-minute pre-school program. We ask that children be able to use the toilet alone (we will escort them to the bathroom, but not enter the stall) and that your child feel safe and comfortable without your presence in the building. Drop off forms are available at the front desk and must be completed prior to leaving the building. You must be reachable by phone at all times during the class and arrive back at the museum 5 minutes prior to the end of class.
Please let us know if there are any ways in which we can better serve you and your family.
