Toddler Curriculum Theme Ideas
- Happy Toddler image by Mary Beth Granger from Fotolia.com
Toddlers are young children between the ages of 18 months and 3 years. Creative themes help educators and parents prepare these toddlers for preschool. When children get to preschool (age 3), they will encounter a more formal curriculum like the Creative Curriculum for Preschool by Teaching Strategies Inc. A good toddler curriculum helps students develop in the areas of social/emotional development, physical development, cognitive development and language development. - Toddlers are able to move about and test their curiosity in their environment. Learning about the human body is a way for the toddler to learn information she can use throughout life. Teachers encourage toddlers to learn the names of body parts through movement songs like "Hokey-Pokey," "If You're Happy and You Know It" and "Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes." The human body theme also includes activities where children are encouraged to test their physical skills and to use artwork and other hands-on activities to develop body awareness concepts.
- In preparation for preschool, toddlers also need to learn about colors. The teacher can use the color theme over many weeks through color of the week or treat this unit as a two- or three week-unit in which children explore colors. The preschool environment is rich with opportunities for investigating colors and talking about them in many contexts. Theme activities should include painting, coloring, sidewalk chalk, color bingo, food coloring, painting sand and crafts with colored paper.
- Shapes are well-represented in many toddler toys, clothes, bedding, books and classrooms. Toddlers build motor skills as they interact in their play environment. The teacher can use shapes to talk about various concepts. For example, children can count shapes, trace shapes, make shapes and explore shapes in their environment. Shapes are also important for connecting to other themes like counting and naming colors. By providing toys such as pattern blocks, beads, links, circles and other shapes, toddlers can look for patterns and practice sorting.
