About our 2-Year-Olds Program in Elkhorn, NE

Focus: Growing your child's vocabulary and comprehension skills.

We create ample opportunities for your 2-year-old to practice language and communication through music, play and stories.

Activities

• Learning the letter “C” by learning its shape and practicing the sound it makes.
• Mimicking actions and learning the names of fingers through finger plays.
• Learning about different types of vehicles, like dump trucks, tractors and buses.
• Learning the Spanish words for eyes (los ojos) and mouth (la boca) while identifying and drawing pictures of their eyes and mouth.

Learn On^®

Learning continues beyond the classroom. Here are some easy projects you can do to extend learning into your home.

• Write the letters that start your child’s first and last names so that they become familiar with the shapes and can practice the sounds those letters make.
• Do the finger play “Where is Thumbkin?” and have your child mimic the actions to learn the names of the fingers.
• Have your child draw a picture of a face, then practice the Spanish words for eyes (los ojos) and mouth (la boca).

Focus: Helping your child count, recognize patterns and discover how our world works.

We teach your 2-year-old basic math and science through hands-on activities that build on their natural curiosity about the world.

Activities

• Investigating whether objects sink or float at the water table.
• Following a recipe to make cornbread using simple math skills, like counting and measuring.
• Understanding how plants grow by planting grass seeds and caring for them until they sprout.
• Learning basic shapes, like circles and squares, by going on a scavenger hunt in the classroom for objects that look like these shapes.

Learn On^®

Learning continues beyond the classroom. Here are some easy projects you can do to extend learning into your home.

• During bath time, investigate which toys float or sink in the water.
• Let your child help make a simple recipe, like cornbread, to practice simple math skills like counting and measuring.
• Plant and care for grass seeds to help your child understand how plants grow.
• Do a scavenger hunt at home and have your child find objects with basic shapes like triangles, squares and circles.

Focus: Helping your child control their feelings and behaviors.

Our teachers create a patient, supportive environment for your 2-year-old to learn about themselves and forming relationships with others. Your child will participate in activities designed to help them understand trust, empathy, compassion and a sense of right and wrong.

Activities

• Playing cooperatively with other children by painting murals as a class and sharing blocks to build a house.
• Pretending to have a picnic with classmates in the Dramatic Play center.
• Discussing ways they can help their family at home through songs.
• Discussing and celebrating accomplishments and learning about independence from books.

Learn On^®

Learning continues beyond the classroom. Here are some easy projects you can do to extend learning into your home.

• Sing “Help Around the House” and discuss ways your child can help with chores at home.
• Read “I Can Do It Too!” and talk about ways your child can practice being independent.
• Use blocks to build a house with your child so that they learn how cooperation helps make things happen.

Focus: Developing your child's coordination and balance.

Our teachers guide your 2-year-old through activities designed to help refine physical skills that utilize their small and large muscle groups.

Activities

• Feeding themselves with forks and spoons and learning to pour child-size pitchers during family-style meals.
• Working on coordination by throwing and kicking balls and conquering obstacle courses on the playground.
• Learning rhythm through dancing and musical activities.
• Learning to do basic daily skills.

Learn On^®

Learning continues beyond the classroom. Here are some easy projects you can do to extend learning into your home.

• Throw and kick balls outside to help work on coordination.
• Put on some music and dance with your child to help them learn about rhythmic motion.
• Have your child pick out and put on their clothes to learn to do basic daily skills like getting dressed.

Focus: Helping your child grow into a caring individual.

We believe exposing your 2-year-old to common values helps them better understand the society we live in. Throughout the year, we focus on a different value, like honesty, generosity and patience.

Activities

• Introducing the concept of sharing by role playing and reading.
• Encouraging cooperation by working in pairs.
• Discussing independence.

Learn On^®

Learning continues beyond the classroom. Here are some easy projects you can do to extend learning into your home.

• Read “Should I Share My Ice Cream?” and then do role playing to learn about the concept of sharing.
• Encourage cooperation by working with your child to clean up around the house.
• Discuss independence through singing songs like “This is the Way I Comb My Hair.”