Active Exploration for Toddlers
Toddlers learn best through meaningful play; concrete sensory interactions; and intentional activities, experiences, and active exploration of their environment as well as through interactions with adults in the context of routine care.
Learning Outcomes
Toddlers are in a continuous state of exploring, discovering, and constructing meaningful relationships with their environment and the people around them. Classrooms are designed to promote curiosity, support inquiry and discovery, and the foundational skill of scientific thinking.
Play sequences and activities expand across all areas of learning and build social, physical, and cognitive skills through intentional planning by teachers who interact with them asking open ended questions. Play is the child’s natural state of mind and is a powerful learning tool that helps children gather and construct knowledge, organize information, and apply knowledge.
Children develop self awareness and self management in an emotionally supportive environment. Toddlers develop coordination and fine and gross motor skills through physical activity. Toddlers are engaging in parallel play, alongside their classmates and are beginning to coordinate their play with one another.
Toddler Program Locations
Find a location that works for your family and expand the section to get started on taking a tour.
Age:
13 - 36 months
Address:
1073 Old York Road
Abington, PA 19001
Phone:
215-309-0374
Age:
25 - 36 months
Address:
1724 Christian Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146
Phone:
215-735-5800
Age:
13 - 36 months
Address:
1400 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19121
Phone:
215-235-6440
Age:
13 - 36 months
Address:
144 Holy Road, Gilbertsville, PA 19525
Phone:
610-367-9622
Age:
13 - 36 months
Address:
1001 Briggs Road, Suite 275, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054
Phone:
856-266-9922
Age:
13 - 36 months
Address:
11088 Knights Road, Philadelphia, PA 19154
Phone:
215-632-0100
Age:
13 - 36 months
Address:
400 E. Pothouse Road, Phoenixville, PA 19460
Phone:
610-933-5861
Age:
13 - 36 months
Address:
1000 Heritage Drive, Sanatoga, PA 19464
Phone:
484-363-2724
Age:
13 - 36 months
Address:
1299 West Baltimore Pike, Media, PA 19063
Phone:
610-627-9622
Age:
13 - 36 months
Address:
7219 Ridge Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19128
Phone:
215-482-3900
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question we didn't answer below? Let's chat! Our caring and dedicated Child Care team members are here to answer any questions your family may have.
Toddler programs begin at 13 months or later depending on location.
We follow a 1 adult to 5 children ratio for young toddlers and 1 adult to 6 children ratio for older toddlers.
Daily notes on foods eaten and quantities, sleeping, photos and activities are provided through Tadpoles. Families are provided with development progress reports three times per year.
Handwashing occurs upon entering the classroom, before handling food and feeding, after handling body fluids, before and after messy play.
Surfaces in the learning center are washed and sanitized frequently. Rest mats/coats are sanitized weekly and bedding is sent home at the end of each week to be laundered. Carpets and toys are cleaned regularly.
To learn more about the health and safety precautions we follow at Y Early Learning Centers, please review our Family Manual. We also follow the standards outlined by Praesidium for child protection.
Families provide a standard crib sheet and blanket, change of seasonally appropriate clothing, diapers and wipes (5 per day), sippy cup or water bottle, and possibly lunch depending on location.
All items brought from home shall be labeled with the child’s full name.
Children’s diapers are changed every 2 hours.
Toilet training begins once a child demonstrates readiness; has words for pee and poo, shows signs of discomfort when soiled, eliminates regularly, can pull clothing down and up.
Nap time is for 2 hours after lunch on a cot or rest mat.
Toddlers spend time outdoors daily so appropriate outerwear is necessary year round.
Closed toe and closed heel shoes, such as sneakers, are best for all age groups.
Screen time is not permitted in toddler rooms.