The first year of a child's life is incredibly important for their brain and language development. During this time, their brain is rapidly growing and forming connections, which lays the foundation for all future learning and development. Language development is particularly crucial during this period, as babies start to babble, imitate sounds, and eventually say their first words. It's a time when they're soaking in information from their surroundings and building the skills they'll use for communication throughout their lives.
At Miles of Smiles, we understand that the toddler years are filled with curiosity and a quest for belonging. That's why our toddler program focuses on creating a supportive environment where children can learn and grow together. We encourage them to explore, discover, and build a sense of community while having fun along the way.
A child's third year is marked by significant changes, much like adolescence. It's a transitional period where they move from the total dependence of babyhood to becoming more independent, akin to preschoolers. During this time, children are exploring their ability to communicate, move with purpose, assert their independence and individuality, and control their bodily functions.
As children transition into the preschool years, our learning program becomes more structured yet still engaging. We create a sense of curiosity and a love for learning, encouraging children to explore the world around them with a positive attitude. During this stage, children must develop confidence, critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, teamwork, effective communication, and a deeper understanding of the world and its mechanisms.
At this stage, children at Miles of Smiles are fully immersed in our teaching approach, which aims to prepare them in various ways: first, be ready to read: We focus on nurturing a strong desire for reading, along with building vocabulary and language skills. Children engage in meaningful experiences that enhance their ability to understand and decode language. Approach the world with curiosity: We encourage a curious mindset that fosters success in math and science. Children develop an interest in understanding the properties of objects and the natural world's relationships and forces.
Use social skills: Children learn important social skills such as active listening, self-discipline, patience, and task commitment. They also develop the ability to collaborate with others and effectively solve problems.