18 to 24 months depending on your child’s development
Learning through play is the key to building a desire for learning in a young toddler!  Our curriculum addresses young toddlers’ growth and development by closely following their readiness cues.  As your child displays interest and signs of emerging skills, he or she is encouraged to move toward the next challenge.

Our developmental program, Lifetime Learners , includes enrichment programs for Infant Sign Language, Musical Beginnings, Developmental Milestone and Reading Readiness.  We also incorporate key elements from the Creative Curriculum for Infants and Toddlers (one of five curriculums approved by New Jersey State Dept. of Education) which focus on intentional teaching through small group interactions.

Your child’s developmental growth is reinforced through teacher-led play.  For example, when focusing on a “Crawl & Fly” theme, the song of the week could be Pretty Butterfly, the book read could be Very Hungry Caterpillar, and the games could include crawling like an Inchworm.  Art projects could entail creating cocoons from cotton balls and creating hand-print butterflies from coffee filters.  Children could also enjoy watching the butterflies in the garden, imitating them by flitting around the playground while searching for leaves to “feed” them.

Lesson plans are designed to address each of the developmental areas including: Sensory & Perception, Language & Communication, Personal & Social, Creativity & Arts, Physical, and Cognitive.

Rainbow Academy teachers are warm and supportive, directing children to play safely and to also learn what is appropriate behavior in social situations - a key area of development for this active age group.

Classrooms are center–based learning environments that channel children’s abundant energy into various activities.  They move through these areas as they explore, discover and expand their interests.  Examples of some areas are: Dramatic Play Center, Family Center, Transportation Center , Building Center, Reading Center and Computer Center.  These learning areas are filled with fun and age-appropriate puzzles, manipulatives, games and toys.