The furniture and materials are sized to the toddler child. The shelves are uncluttered and include safe, interesting materials to touch and manipulate. The class uses the gym facility on a weekly basis and generally there is a theme around which the equipment is set up e.g. balancing, climbing, by the P.E. teacher. In addition, there are several outdoor playground areas and an area for riding toys. The main objectives of the toddler class are to help the children become able to function independently, to allow the child to explore the environment and manipulate the objects in the environment freely, to assist them in their rapid language development and to introduce them to ways to develop their bodies and minds.
Independence starts the first moment the toddler is dropped at the classroom door.
By the time they leave the toddler environment the children will be showing strong signs of independence such as dressing and undressing themselves, choosing work, completing a sequence of tasks in their work, interacting with others in a positive manner, completing toilet training, etc. Language development happens constantly in the toddler classroom. The child is given the names of everything in the classroom, names of feelings and appropriate ways to express them other than physically. He is encouraged to talk about anything and everything. Besides the encouragement of conversation, language is explored through songs rhymes and books.