Little Explorers

Children 0-18 months begin to explore the environment, touch and manipulate objects. Learn by imitating and observing other people. Show understanding of words for highly familiar objects. Understand and can follow very simple instructions.

Developmental Milestones

Physical:

0 – 3 months

  • Sucking, grasping reflexes
  • Lifts head when held at shoulder
  • Moves arms actively
  • Is able to follow objects and to focus

3 – 6 months

  • Rolls over
  • Holds head up when held in sitting position Lifts up knees, crawling motions
  • Reaches for objects

6 – 9 months

  • Sits unaided, spends more time in upright position Learns to crawl
  • Climbs stairs
  • Develops eye-hand coordination

9 – 18 months

  • Achieve mobility, strong urge to climb, crawl
  • Stands and walks
  • Learn to walk on his or her own
  • Learns to grasp with thumb and finger
  • Feeds self
  • Transfers small objects from one hand to another

Emotional/Social:

  •  Wants to have needs met
  •  Develop a sense of security
  •  Smiles spontaneously and responsively
  •  Likes movement, to be held and rocked
  •  Laughs aloud
  •  Socializes with anyone, but knows mother or primary
    caregiver
  •  Responds to tickling
  •  Prefers primary caregiver
  •  May cry when strangers approach
  • Commonly exhibits anxiety
  •  Extends attachments for primary caregivers to the world
  •  Demonstrate object permanence; knows parents exist and
    will return (helps child deal with anxiety)
  •  Test limits

Intellectual/Cognitive:

  •  Vocalizes sounds (coos)
  •  Smiles and expresses pleasure
  •  Recognizes primary caregiver
  •  Uses both hands to grasp objects
  •  Has extensive visual interests
  •  Puts everything in mouth
  •  Solves simple problems, e.g., will move obstacles aside to
    reach objects
  •  Transfers objects from hand to hand
  •  Responds to changes in environment and can repeat action
    that caused it
  •  Begins to respond selectively to words
  •  Demonstrates intentional behavior, initiates actions
  •  Realizes objects exist when out of sight and will look for
    them (object permanence)
  •  Is interested and understands words
  •  Says words like “mama”, “dada”

Schedule

7:30AM – 8:30AM

Drop off, Hand washing, Diapers, Bottles

8:30AM – 9:00AM  

Circle time / Morning snack

9:00AM – 11:00AM

Naptime

11:00AM – 11:15AM 

Diapers, Hand washing

11:30AM – 12:00PM

Bottles/lunch

12:00PM – 2:00PM 

Music time, Story time, Sensory play, Outside Play (as weather permits)

2:00PM – 2:15PM 

Diapers, Hand washing

2:30PM – 4:00PM

Naptime (time may vary depending on the quality of the morning nap)

4:00PM – 4:30PM  

PM snack, Clean up, hand washing, Diapers

4:30PM – 5:30PM  

Diapers (as needed), clean up, preparation for pick up, free play

 

This schedule is a guideline for our days. Actual times and activities often vary in response to the children’s needs and interests.

Sample Curriculum