The Next Steps Class for 18-Month-Olds to 24-Month-Olds at Heritage Preschool | Oak Ridge, TN

At Heritage Preschool in Oak Ridge, TN, our Preschool Class for 18- to 24-month-olds offers a nurturing, stimulating environment where toddlers can grow, explore, and reach critical developmental milestones.

Our classrooms are designed to promote early language development, motor skills, cognitive growth, and social-emotional learning. We understand that each child develops at their own pace, and our teachers are committed to providing personalized care and attention to help every toddler thrive.

Learning Milestones for Toddlers (18 to 24 Months)

During the 18-24-month age range, toddlers experience rapid development. Our classroom is structured to support these key milestones through engaging activities and play-based learning. Here’s what your child will be working on:

Physical & Motor Skills Development

Walking and Running: Toddlers are refining their gross motor skills, becoming more confident in walking, running, and exploring their surroundings.

Fine Motor Skills: Activities like stacking blocks, drawing with crayons, and manipulating toys help improve hand-eye coordination and fine motor control.

Balance & Coordination: Simple balance exercises and play activities help toddlers develop better coordination and motor control, laying the foundation for future physical skills.

Language & Communication Development

Vocabulary Expansion: At this stage, toddlers are rapidly expanding their vocabulary. Teachers encourage language development through storytelling, singing, and interactive play.

Simple Sentences: Toddlers begin to use simple two- and three-word phrases, allowing them to express their needs and thoughts more clearly.

Speech Recognition: Through one-on-one interactions and group activities, children are learning to recognize and name common objects, animals, and familiar people.

Cognitive Development

Problem-Solving: Our activities encourage toddlers to use trial and error to solve simple problems, such as figuring out how to stack objects or complete a puzzle.

Understanding Concepts: Toddlers begin to grasp basic concepts like size, color, shape, and cause-and-effect relationships through hands-on experiences.

Memory & Attention: Storytime, interactive games, and music activities help toddlers improve their memory and ability to focus for short periods.

Social & Emotional Development

Emotional Expression: Toddlers are learning how to express their feelings with words and gestures. Our caregivers support this by helping children label their emotions and practice emotional regulation.

Peer Interaction: At this stage, toddlers begin to engage with other children in parallel play and occasionally in cooperative play. Our caregivers encourage sharing, turn-taking, and socialization skills.

Building Confidence: As toddlers gain independence in tasks like feeding themselves or choosing a toy, they develop a sense of accomplishment and self-confidence.

Why Choose Heritage Preschool for Your Toddler?

Play-Based Learning: We believe that play is the foundation of learning at this age. Our classroom is filled with age-appropriate toys, art supplies, and hands-on activities that foster creativity, exploration, and cognitive growth.

Individualized Attention: With a low student-to-teacher ratio, we provide personalized care and attention, ensuring that each child’s needs are met and that they are challenged at their own developmental level.

Experienced Caregivers: Our highly trained and compassionate teachers understand the importance of these formative years. They are skilled in guiding toddlers through their developmental stages with patience and care, providing a safe and loving environment.

A Loving, Safe Environment: We prioritize your child’s safety and well-being. Our classrooms are designed to be secure, clean, and comfortable, giving both parents and toddlers peace of mind.

Daily Communication: We believe in building strong relationships with parents. You’ll receive daily updates on your child’s activities, progress, and milestones, ensuring you’re always in the loop.

Classroom Activities for 18-24 Month-Olds

Our Preschool Class for 18-Month-Olds to 24-Month-Olds offers a variety of engaging activities that support the developmental milestones of toddlers, including:

Storytime: We use books and storytelling to boost language development, introduce new vocabulary, and stimulate imagination.

Art Projects: Simple art activities like finger painting, coloring, and collage-making promote creativity and fine motor skills.

Music & Movement: Songs, rhymes, and dance activities help toddlers improve coordination and rhythm while also enhancing language and social skills.

Interactive Play: Blocks, shape sorters, and pretend play toys foster problem-solving skills, social interaction, and cognitive growth.

Why Oak Ridge Parents Choose Heritage Preschool

At Heritage Preschool, we provide a strong foundation for lifelong learning in a loving, supportive environment. Our dedicated teachers focus on each child's individual needs of each child while promoting emotional, social, and cognitive development. Parents in Oak Ridge trust us to provide the highest level of care and early education, ensuring their children’s success in the years ahead.