Our program is designed to allow two-year-olds to learn through play while encouraging (and noticing) individual interests. By promoting independence and developing an emerging awareness of social behavior, we help young learners expand their world beyond the home to the school community. At Bright Beginnings Nursery & Pre-school our focus is on helping two-year olds to begin to develop relationships with others and develop a lifelong love of learning.  This is done by forming a close bond with their teachers, which affords them the confidence to separate from their main caregiver (their parents) and expand their social horizon with their peers.

Teachers facilitate opportunities for children to engage in both teacher-directed and student directed activities. Throughout the morning, children work in small groups and individually to complete a teacher-directed activity, for example completing a page in their colour book, creating a special craft or working with a new art medium. Children also make self-directed (but carefully guided) choices, participate in small groups, take part in circle time, and build the confidence needed to try new things. Children enjoy free play to allow creativity and imagination to flourish.

Many opportunities are provided to increase a child’s ability to communicate by developing active listening and expressive language skills. Big books are used to encourage the use of imagination and help develop pre-reading skills by looking at the pictures and then developing a story of their own from the pictures. Discussion about the stories, reenacting favourite stories and nursery rhymes with puppets or through role play, help develop language skills such as sequencing and vocabulary enhancement, as well as getting children to attempt to predict what comes next. As the children’s skills progress, words are introduced in a repetitive form to reinforce understanding and knowledge. The books used have bright and imaginative pictures and the children are introduced to all of the basic pre-reading skills such as how to handle a book, front to back, left to right, top to bottom, one to one word matching and understanding that print has meaning.

As children show an interest in potty training, teachers partner with parents to help accomplish this important milestone with pride. A consistent approach and an encouraging environment are the keys to successful potty training, supporting both children and their families with care and concern.