Infants & Toddlers Curriculum

Our award-winning Dick and Dottie Appelbaum Infant Toddler Center (Maitland) and Dr. Phillips Infant Toddler Center (Southwest Orlando) are among the best in the area. We know parents are looking for a quality program that also offers peace of mind that your children are in a safe, secure, and loving environment. We recognize the importance of your child’s first two years of life. In order to strengthen bonding and attachment, infants may spend two years with at least one of their teachers. Infants and toddlers explore a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment, which strengthens the child’s quest for independence and self-confidence

Our program offers the whole package:

Beautiful carefully designed nursery classrooms, equipped with kitchen set-ups, soft and natural lighting and an abundance of developmentally appropriate toys
Low infant-to-teacher ratio
Consistency of care
Individualized lesson plans and schedules, so parents and teachers reinforce each other’s efforts
“Whole baby” approach to childcare, seeing the infant as a human being whose physical, cognitive, emotional and social needs must all be addressed Developmentally appropriate curriculum offered by trained educators
All children enjoy weekly specialists in Judaic values curriculum, foreign languages, music, gross motor skills, baby yoga and sign language
Physical education, emphasizing gross motor skills using our tot patio fully equipped with a safe resilient surface

Social and Emotional Development
Respond to talking, smiling, touching
Vocalize to gain attention
Develop a positive self-concept
Separate from parents without stress
Use classroom materials properly
Want to do things for self
Become a participant in group activities

Physical Development 
Refine motor skills by:
Reaching and picking up objects
Transferring objects from hand to hand
Purposefully dropping items into a container
Stacking blocks
Completing simple puzzles
Stringing large beads
Using a crayon to make marks
Refine gross motor skills by:
Tracking objects by moving head
Holding up head when sitting supported
Creeping backward and forward
Crawling with regular movement
Moving body in time to music
Pushing and pulling toys
Walking alone
Catching a ball

Cognitive and Language Development
Play Peek-a-boo
Babble and practice sounds
Find object hidden under a cover
Know where familiar things are kept
Show one body part
Respond to own name
Follow simple commands
Stack rings
Imitate words and actions of adults
Match two simple objects
Develop tactile awareness
Use simple sentences

Life Skills
Reach for and hold bottle
Feed finger foods to self
Assist in undressing
Wash hands
Participate in clean-up

Music
Music specialist
Finger plays
Listening skills
Following directions
Rhythm and beat
Music appreciation
Exploration of instruments
Dance, sing and move to music

Judaic Studies
Judaic specialist
Celebration of Jewish holidays
Celebration of Kabbalat Shabbat (a Friday morning musical celebration)
Holiday and Bible stories
Hebrew language and blessings
Values, charity, respect for people and animals, helping at home, kindness