Growth and Development: The Benefits of Early Learning for Toddlers

During your child’s toddler years, you will see many changes and different emotions. Apart from broadening their world, early learning for toddlers can profoundly affect many aspects of their development and behaviour.

Studies have shown that beginning the early learning journey as a toddler can give your child a lifelong love of learning and a headstart regarding their first year in ‘big school.’

As a child grows, they begin to develop a sense of themselves through play as they explore different aspects of themselves (social, emotional, and cognitive). Children learn about themselves and construct their identity in their relationships with their family and community. In early childhood settings, toddlers develop a sense of belonging when they feel accepted, develop attachments and trust those caring for them.

Early childhood is when more physical and developmental changes occur than during any other life cycle stage. It is, therefore, essential to ensure that your child is in the best possible environment to optimise their development. Even many developmental psychology experts argue that the daycare environment positively affects child development.

The daycare environment supports your child in learning how to form positive and trusting relationships, acquire balance and coordination, as well as how to manage stress, challenging situations and risks by providing indoor and outdoor areas where your child can take calculated risks and engage in realistic play-based experiences with their peers.

The educator teams at Young Academics are committed to providing the best possible start to your toddler’s future education. That’s why our Evolution Program focuses on seven key areas that promote a child’s holistic learning and development. Our educators actively engage children in play-based experiences that challenge and extend their thinking and learning

1. Core – supports children to develop resilience
2. Scholar – develops foundational literacy and numeracy skills
3. Creative – gives them opportunities to use their imagination to express themselves
4. Wellness – teaches them about good hygiene, healthy eating, and keeping active
5. Wellbeing – introduces them to fairness, empathy and compassion
6. Our world – focuses on culture, diversity and the environment
7. Discovery – nurtures natural curiosity through play-based STEM experiences

Being a toddler at daycare requires a new list of things to pack. Your day care centre will probably provide you with a list.

Young Academics provides all the necessities for your child, however, we do ask families to bring some items, such as a water bottle, formula and a spare change of clothing. Be sure to label all items clearly.

Most toddlers settle into daycare without too much fuss. It’s important to remember that they need a little time to get used to the new surroundings. It usually takes anywhere up to 6 weeks to settle in completely. However, other children find the new environment more challenging. Understandably, parents also feel anxious and nervous about leaving their children for the very first time.

Here are some tips to help you make the transition as smooth as possible:

• Before starting daycare, talk to your child about where they’ll be going and what they’ll be doing.
• Let them choose a favourite toy to take along with them.
• Don’t miss the orientation process. Please bring your child along so that they can get used to the new environment
• Give them some control over their day. Get them excited about it and let them choose what they want to wear and what they want to bring with them.
• Give assurance to your child that you will be coming back soon.
• When it’s time to leave, make the goodbye brief. Prolonging the separation makes it more painful

The benefits of participating in high-quality early childhood education are far-reaching, so children must be given the opportunity to experience what is available to them.

As early learning professionals at Young Academics, we understand that early learning is essential in helping children develop and thrive.

If you want to give your toddler the best start to their early education in a family environment where they will feel safe, secure and nurtured, call us today on 1300 668 993.