Toddler Daycare in NYC (1-2 years old)

At this age, children explore emotions and their environment. With our dedicated educators, your child will:

• Grasp colors and shapes and follow basic instructions for cognitive growth.
• Build social skills through interactions with peers and teachers.
• Enhance motor skills, both gross and fine, through play.
• Develop language by babbling, mimicking sounds, and forming early words.

Our program emphasizes individuality, providing personalized care for every child.

Little Scholars offers a flexible Monday-Friday schedule. While a four to five-day routine provides consistent learning and peer interaction, it’s essential to consider your child’s comfort and your family’s routine. It’s all about balance and easing into a schedule. Our team collaborates with you to find the optimal frequency for your child, ensuring their early education journey is nurturing and fulfilling.

Research indicates that children in structured early learning environments often excel in social, emotional, and cognitive domains and adapt better to school later.

Our Little Scholars program, which emphasizes playful learning, cultivates curiosity, self-confidence, and positive relationships. This foundation can lead to future academic and life success. By teaching discipline, problem-solving, and respect, we aid in character development, preparing them for their ongoing educational journey.

Toddlers thrive on routine, and our Frog Street Toddler Curriculum is built around a predictable, nurturing daily schedule that gives children the security and structure they need to explore and grow. The morning begins with a warm arrival and greeting routine, followed by free exploration and sensory play, then circle time with songs, movement, and early language activities. Mid-morning includes outdoor play for gross motor development, followed by breakfast or a morning snack.

The late morning shifts to small-group learning activities focused on colors, shapes, early counting, and peer interaction. Lunch is served at midday, with mealtimes used as natural opportunities to build language skills and social connection. A rest period follows, with nap times tailored to each child’s individual schedule — most toddlers sleep for one and a half to two hours.

The afternoon brings quiet activities, additional sensory play, and an afternoon snack before family pickup. Throughout the day, parents receive real-time photos and daily updates through our Brightwheel app. Three hot meals and two snacks are provided daily, there’s no need to pack a lunch!

We at Little Scholars understand that starting a preschool experience is a significant transition for both the kid and the parents. That is why our program for 1-year-olds is carefully designed to help your child settle in at their own pace, so you can feel confident and at ease leaving them in our daycare.

Yes, Little Scholars provides toddler preschool with various age programs. We provide 3K (3-4 years old) and UPK (4-5 years old) programs, which are classified as preschool or pre-kindergarten programs. We also offer flexible scheduling for our 2-year-old program, so you can find an option that fits comfortably into your family’s routine.

Toddlers (12-24 months) learn at Little Scholars through a toddler learning center program that encourages inquiry and participation while also concentrating on cognitive, emotional, and physical development. Key areas of toddler education include better motor abilities, communication and engagement, basic math concepts, and the start of language development.

Every child is wonderfully different, so there’s no single right answer — but we can share what we’ve seen work well! Children around 18 months to 2 years old often adjust to toddler care more smoothly than younger toddlers, because by that age most can communicate basic needs through words or signs, show interest in other children, and begin to tolerate brief separations without prolonged distress. That said, starting as early as 12 months also works beautifully when the program maintains a warm, low-ratio environment and the transition is handled gently.

At Little Scholars, our Toddler Program welcomes children from age 1 (12 months), and our teaching team works closely with every family to make the transition as comfortable as possible. We encourage gradual starts for children who need extra time — beginning with shorter sessions and building up to full days at a pace that feels right for your little one. Our Frog Street Toddler Curriculum focuses on building independence, language, and social skills through play and exploration, all within a nurturing, consistent routine.

The best first step is to come visit us, meet our teachers, and see the classroom. Give us a call to set up a tour!

While some young toddlers may still take two naps a day, most have cut back to just one by the time they are 18 months old. Ages 3-5: 10–13 hours for preschool. During these years in a toddler daycare schedule, many preschoolers get adequate sleep at night and forgo afternoon naps. The amount of time you sleep in the afternoon may also get shorter over time. As your child gets older, their nap won’t need to be as long to make them feel better.