​We never want parents to feel pressured to choose a childcare center based solely on affordability. We want you to choose a center they truly love.  Due to this, a matched tuition rate equal to any group childcare center in Merrimack will be honored. (Yearly increases will be applied in September)

Back River Road - Older Toddlers

2.5 years to 3 years old

​

About Our Classroom

Welcome to our Older Toddler Classroom, where growing independence, blossoming friendships, and exciting new milestones make every day an adventure!

Our classroom is thoughtfully designed for children ages 2½ to 3 years old, a wonderful stage when little learners are developing stronger communication skills, discovering their independence, and preparing for the exciting transition into preschool.

At this age, children are eager to explore, express their ideas, build friendships, and take on new responsibilities. Our classroom provides a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment where children are encouraged to learn through hands-on experiences, creative play, and meaningful social interactions.

Our caring teachers provide patience, encouragement, and individualized support as children develop confidence, practice important self-help skills, and celebrate their growing abilities.

Learning Through Play & Discovery

Our daily activities are thoughtfully designed to encourage:

• Language & Communication: Expanding vocabulary, speaking in longer sentences, asking questions, participating in conversations, and expressing thoughts, feelings, and needs.

• Social & Emotional Development: Building friendships, practicing sharing and turn-taking, recognizing emotions, developing empathy, and learning positive ways to communicate with others.

• Early Academic Foundations: Exploring colors, shapes, numbers, counting, matching, sorting, patterns, and early literacy through playful, age-appropriate activities.

• Gross Motor Development: Running, jumping, climbing, balancing, dancing, and strengthening coordination through active indoor and outdoor play.

• Fine Motor Development: Drawing, painting, using playdough, completing puzzles, building with blocks, and practicing early scissor skills with appropriate supervision.

• Creative Expression: Exploring imagination through dramatic play, music, art, storytelling, sensory experiences, and hands-on discovery.

• Independence & Self-Help Skills: Practicing dressing, handwashing, cleaning up, managing personal belongings, and developing confidence in everyday routines.

A Day in Our Classroom

Our days are filled with exploration, creativity, laughter, and exciting opportunities to learn!

Children participate in a balance of teacher-guided learning experiences and child-led play, including circle time, music and movement, sensory activities, creative art, early literacy, outdoor adventures, and imaginative play.

We introduce consistent classroom routines that encourage responsibility, independence, and a sense of belonging.

Our teachers provide opportunities for children to make choices, solve simple problems, practice following directions, and develop the confidence needed for the next stage of learning.

Potty Training & Growing Independence

One of the biggest milestones in our Older Toddler Classroom is potty training!

We understand that every child develops at their own pace, and our goal is to make the potty-training experience positive, comfortable, and encouraging.

Our teachers work closely with families to create a consistent and supportive approach that helps children feel confident and successful.

Our potty-training routine focuses on:

• Individual Readiness: Recognizing each child's developmental signs of readiness and respecting their individual progress.

• Consistent Bathroom Opportunities: Offering regular opportunities to use the toilet throughout the day, especially during natural transitions.

• Positive Encouragement: Celebrating effort and progress with praise, patience, and reassurance without pressure or punishment.

• Building Independence: Encouraging children to practice managing clothing, using the toilet, flushing, and washing their hands with age-appropriate assistance.

• Family Partnerships: Maintaining open communication with parents to support consistency between home and school.

• Accident Support: Understanding that accidents are a normal part of learning and responding with kindness, patience, and encouragement.

We believe potty training is an important developmental milestone that should be approached with understanding, teamwork, and celebration.

Our goal is to help every child feel proud of their progress while developing confidence and independence in their bathroom routines.

Building Friendships & Emotional Confidence

During the older toddler years, children begin developing stronger friendships and a greater understanding of their emotions.

Our teachers guide children as they learn to communicate their feelings, navigate social situations, practice taking turns, and resolve simple conflicts with support.

We encourage kindness, cooperation, empathy, and respectful interactions while helping children develop the emotional skills they need to thrive in a group setting.

Through positive guidance and consistent expectations, children begin learning how to become confident, caring members of their classroom community.

Preparing for Preschool

Our Older Toddler Classroom provides an important bridge between toddlerhood and preschool.

Through engaging activities and consistent routines, we help children build the foundational skills needed for a successful transition.

We focus on developing independence, strengthening communication, encouraging participation in group activities, following simple directions, and building early academic readiness.

We recognize that preschool readiness is about much more than knowing letters, numbers, or colors. It is also about feeling confident, communicating needs, developing friendships, and becoming comfortable with new experiences.

Every child progresses at their own pace, and we celebrate each step along the way!

Our Promise to Families

We understand that the older toddler years are filled with tremendous growth, exciting milestones, and growing independence.

Our goal is to create a warm, welcoming classroom where every child feels safe, valued, supported, and excited to learn.

We believe in strong partnerships with families through open communication, individualized attention, and a shared commitment to each child's development.