Pre-Toddler Program
Pre-Toddler Program
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Pre-Toddlers are busy all day, exploring the various areas of the classroom. This is a wonderful advantage over what you can provide in your home, with many more choices and opportunities to learn to share space with other Pre-Toddlers. In this step, your pre-toddler will start becoming more independent, curious, and social. Our teachers will help them with our Creative Curriculum, where they are able to learn and play. Our pre-toddler programs in Gaithersburg, Maryland, provide structured guidance as we help them to use utensils, sort shapes, colors, kick, run, and scribble with crayons.
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We encourage them to imitate sounds by clapping and using musical instruments. We help them to express their emotions in every way and let them know that it is okay to be a pre-toddler while they are learning limits. Pre-toddlers will learn how to sit and enjoy books as we have circle time. Our classroom has an open floor plan where the children are able to explore the world around them.
Daily Schedule
Children Given Freedom
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Our Pre-Toddler room staff is well-qualified and certified through the state of Maryland Office of Childcare. Our classroom has a 1:3 ratio. Our Pre-Toddler class helps children to explore the world around them and helps every toddler to develop language and gross motor skills.
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It is designed to put the child at ease by giving them freedom in an environment prepared with attractive and stimulating materials. The classroom enhances each child’s innate sense of independence, order, respect, and kindness.
Opportunities for Growth and Development
Children thrive in an environment that encourages curiosity and experimentation. Our open-floor classrooms allow pre-toddlers to explore safely while observing and interacting with peers. Here are some of the key skills and experiences our program provides:
- Encouragement to explore physical and sensory activities
- Introduction to basic shapes, colors, and early literacy concepts
- Social interaction and cooperative play with other children
- Development of fine motor skills through arts and crafts activities
- Emotional expression and understanding through guided play and music
- Learning daily routines, such as using utensils and tidying up spaces
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Curious about the Pre-Toddler Program? Here are some common questions to help explain how children benefit from this early learning experience.
What is the main goal of a Pre-Toddler Program?
The program aims to nurture curiosity, independence, social interaction, and emotional awareness while introducing children to structured and guided learning experiences.
How do pre-toddlers develop social skills in the classroom?
Social skills are developed through cooperative play, group activities, and sharing space with peers under the guidance of teachers
What types of learning activities are included?
Activities include sensory exploration, musical expression, art and crafts, circle time, motor skill exercises, and basic early literacy concepts.
How is emotional development supported?
Children are encouraged to express their feelings through play, music, and interactions, helping them understand boundaries and self-regulation.
What role do teachers play in the program?
Teachers provide structured guidance, model positive behaviors, and support learning through engaging and age-appropriate activities.
Is the program suitable for children at different developmental stages?
Yes, activities are designed to allow each child to explore and grow at their own pace, ensuring that all developmental levels are supported.
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What Parents are Saying
Akuto Van Mensvoort
My daughter has started going to Top Hat Childcare before she started walking and she’s now almost 5. I have to be honest, when it comes to small children, it’s very delicate, you either feel strongly about what you want for them or you’re ok with giving it a try and see how things go. The later approach worked for us, just like many other things in life. There were times were I would bring up concerns and I may have felt like my concerns were not taken into consideration the way I’d like, however eventually everything always worked out. The teachers and school members always did take note of our concerns. The staff is very friendly and polite.
Hee Kang Ho
“Nice teachers, Good facilities, Good programs for babies and kids”
Olga Burnham
“Our son has been at Top Hat Childcare for over 5 years. He’s had wonderfully caring teachers and administrators since he was enrolled. We highly recommend the peaceful environment and thoughtful approach to learning within the structure of the curriculum. Willing to answer any questions!”
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Our Enrichment Programs
Your child’s inner potential converted to lifelong skills.
Arts and Crafts
Our Arts and Crafts classes helps the children to express themselves while learning how to mix colors and make tall buildings out of materials around them.
Music & Dance Enrichment
Our music and dance classes is a great way for the children to express themselves while exploring different instruments and culture rythms and movements
Language classes
We offer language classes every Friday where your child will learn Spanish from highly qualified teacher. We also teach sign-language as part of our daily curriculum.
Yoga
We are proud to introduce Yoga with Stella on Fridays. Another one of our amazing teachers will be teaching yoga for 30 minutes per class. They will be learning how to stretch and relax themselves at all ages.
Best-in-Class Childcare
Safe and Healthy Environment
We have well appointed monitoring system and security guards to ensure the safety of your children. The facilities are well maintained for healthy and safe environment. For play, we have 2 secure playgrounds so that children have entertainment and security.
Daily Engagement
Staff/Student Ratio of 1/3 for children under 2 years old, 1/6 for children 2-3 years old, and 1/10 for children 3-6 years old – We have more teachers on hand to fit over the ratio so that each child is given a fair chance. We also offer a learning curriculum that is centered around weekly themes.
Home away from Home
We have two nurseries that hold a lot of love, nurture and care. We never seem to shine light on this as if it wasn’t important. Teacher and children relationships set off to shape the way they see the world.