Toddler 1 Program

18 Months – 2 Years

 

 

Growing Independence. Building Language. Discovering the World.

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Between 18 months and 2 years, children are becoming more independent every day. They learn to communicate their needs, explore with confidence, interact with others, and discover they can do things on their own.

At Language Arts Academy, our Toddler 1 program gives children the freedom to explore while providing the loving guidance, structure, and security they need.

In our Spanish immersion environment, children experience Spanish naturally throughout the day through play, music, stories, movement, meals, routines, and meaningful conversations with their teachers.

Our goal is to help every toddler feel secure, capable, curious, and excited to learn.

 

A Loving Environment for Growing Toddlers

Toddlers need both independence and connection.

Our teachers create a warm, predictable environment where children know what to expect while still having opportunities to make choices, explore, and try new things.

We encourage toddlers to practice age-appropriate independence while offering support when they need it.

Throughout the day, children have opportunities to:

• Explore and move freely in a safe environment

• Practice self-help skills

• Participate in simple classroom routines

• Make age-appropriate choices

• Build relationships with teachers and classmates

• Express feelings and communicate their needs

• Discover through hands-on play

• Develop confidence through new experiences

We celebrate the little steps toward independence because we know they are big milestones in a toddler's world.

 

Spanish Immersion Through Everyday Experiences

At this age, children are rapidly developing their understanding of language. Rather than teaching Spanish through formal lessons, we make Spanish part of the child's everyday world.

Teachers communicate naturally in Spanish during play, meals, transitions, songs, stories, movement, and classroom routines.

Simple activities such as washing hands, putting away toys, looking at a book, or getting ready for lunch become opportunities to hear and understand Spanish in context.

Children begin connecting words with actions, objects, people, and experiences in a way that feels natural and engaging.

 

Spanish is part of their day through:

• Songs and fingerplays

• Stories and picture books

• Music and movement

• Pretend play

• Sensory activities

• Art and creative exploration

• Mealtimes and daily routines

• Teacher-child conversations

• Simple directions and classroom language

Our goal is to help children develop a positive relationship with Spanish while building confidence in listening, understanding, and communicating.

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Building Early Communication Skills

Toddlers are discovering the power of communication.

They are learning new words, expressing preferences, asking for help, pointing things out, and beginning to combine words and ideas.

Our teachers encourage communication by talking with children throughout the day, listening to their attempts to communicate, asking simple questions, naming objects and actions, and responding meaningfully to what each child says and does.

In our bilingual environment, children have the opportunity to hear rich language throughout their daily experiences.

We celebrate every attempt to communicate—whether it is a word, gesture, sound, expression, or sentence.

Learning Through Play

For toddlers, play is learning.

Our classroom experiences encourage children to explore, experiment, move, create, and solve simple problems.

Through hands-on activities, children develop skills across multiple areas of development.

Social & Emotional Development

Children learn to build relationships, express emotions, practice sharing space with others, and begin developing early social skills.

Language & Communication

Children hear and use language throughout the day while building listening skills, vocabulary, comprehension, and early communication.

Physical Development

Movement, climbing, walking, dancing, pushing, pulling, grasping, stacking, and other hands-on experiences support growing coordination and strength.

Cognitive Development

Children begin making connections, recognizing patterns, solving simple problems, remembering routines, and discovering cause and effect.

Creative Development

Music, art, movement, pretend play, and sensory experiences encourage imagination and self-expression.

Encouraging Independence

At 18 months to 2 years, children often want to do everything themselves—and we see that as an important part of learning.

Our teachers encourage age-appropriate independence while providing gentle guidance and support.

Children may begin practicing simple skills such as:

• Cleaning up after play

• Putting toys away

• Washing hands

• Feeding themselves with increasing independence

• Making simple choices

• Helping with classroom routines

• Attempting to put on or remove simple clothing items

• Following familiar classroom directions

These everyday moments help toddlers develop confidence, coordination, responsibility, and a growing sense of independence.

A Consistent Routine With Room to Explore

Toddlers thrive with predictable routines and clear expectations.

Our day provides a comfortable rhythm that allows children to know what comes next while still leaving plenty of time for play, movement, discovery, and individual interests.

 

A typical day may include:

Arrival & Connection
Children transition into the classroom with warm greetings and individual attention.

Morning Exploration
Open-ended play and hands-on activities encourage curiosity and independence.

Music & Movement
Songs, dancing, movement, and Spanish language experiences engage little bodies and minds.

Learning Through Play
Teachers introduce age-appropriate activities that support language, sensory, cognitive, and motor development.

Meals & Routines
Everyday routines provide opportunities for communication, independence, and Spanish immersion.

Rest Time
Children have time to recharge in a calm, comfortable environment.

Afternoon Exploration
More opportunities for play, creativity, movement, and social interaction.

We adapt daily schedules to meet our toddlers' developmental and individual needs.

 

Supporting Big Feelings

Toddlers experience big emotions while still learning how to express them.

Our teachers provide calm, loving guidance as children learn to identify feelings, communicate their needs, and navigate frustration and transitions.

We use age-appropriate language, modeling, redirection, connection, and consistent routines to help children gradually develop emotional awareness and self-regulation.

We don't expect toddlers to have all the answers yet. We are here to help them learn.

Small Moments. Big Milestones.

Every day brings something new at this age—a new word, a new friendship, a new movement, a new attempt to do something independently.

Our teachers recognize and celebrate these moments while meeting each child where they are developmentally.

We believe children learn best when they feel connected, encouraged, and confident enough to explore.

A Foundation for Bilingual Learning

Toddler 1 is an exciting stage in a child's development. Their world is expanding, their communication is growing, and their desire to explore is stronger than ever.

At Language Arts Academy, children are given the opportunity to grow in a nurturing environment where Spanish, play, relationships, and discovery are woven together throughout the day.

We are not simply preparing children for the next classroom.

We are helping them become confident little learners who are ready to communicate, explore, connect, and discover.

A Loving Place to Grow

Give your toddler the opportunity to learn, explore, and grow surrounded by caring teachers and the beauty of a second language.

Schedule a tour and discover our Toddler 1 Spanish Immersion program.