2 June 2025

As we move through June—full of outdoor adventures, forest picnics, and a focus on safety—it’s the perfect time to reflect on one of the most exciting, complex, and magical stages of early childhood: the toddler years.

This month, our Policy of the Month is “Working with 2–3 Year Olds”. We get to observe these little ones every day—full of curiosity, determination, and emotion—and it’s a joy to see how our team supports them with care, patience, and trust.

𝗔𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗲, 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵:
🧠 Who they are
❤️ How they feel
👐 What they can do
🌍 And how the world works

Our approach is shaped by Friedrich Froebel’s philosophy of learning through life, nature, and relationships, the Reggio Emilia belief in the child as a capable, curious learner, and our beloved Forest School ethos, which places nature at the heart of all we do.

𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝟮–𝟮.𝟱

At this stage, it’s all about creating rhythm and security—helping children discover their own capabilities, one small moment at a time.

Our staff gently guide children through:

• Building independence with dressing, handwashing, and tidying
• Navigating big feelings, using emotion coaching and calm, predictable responses
• Exploring the world through imaginative play, sensory experiences, and outdoor discovery

This is also when many children start showing their wild side—testing boundaries and expressing themselves with fierce emotion. Rather than “managing behaviour,” we focus on co-regulation and helping children feel safe and understood.

Outdoors, nature becomes their classroom: collecting leaves, climbing logs, spotting worms. These moments are where resilience is built, confidence grows, and children begin to understand their own strength.

𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝟮.𝟱–𝟯

By the time our toddlers reach 2.5, we begin to see a shift. Their language is blossoming, their play becomes richer, and their sense of identity is shining through.

In our older toddler rooms, we:

• Foster child-led inquiry, following their ideas and questions through play
• Offer real-life tools, puzzles, and natural materials to inspire creativity and problem-solving
• Encourage collaboration, allowing children to learn through working with others

The Reggio Emilia approach teaches us to view the environment as the “third teacher.” You’ll see this reflected in our spaces—open-ended resources, loose parts, and invitations to explore. Every activity is purposeful, and every idea matters.

In the forest, these children begin to self-risk assess. They climb higher, dig deeper, and show us how capable they really are when given trust and space.

𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀

We know that raising a toddler can feel like a whirlwind—filled with laughter, tears, and everything in between. That’s why we place such high value on our partnership with you.

We support consistency between nursery and home by:

• Sharing daily updates and observations
• Using the same language and strategies for behaviour
• Offering advice on toileting, transitions, emotional regulation, and independence

Whether it’s managing a tantrum, encouraging your child to put on their own coat, or navigating friendships—we’re here for it all.

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗳𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

Behind every smiling toddler is a practitioner who knows:

• How to stay calm in chaos
• When to step back and observe
• And how to nurture growing independence while still offering a secure base

All our 2–3s team are trained in:

• Froebelian and Reggio-inspired practice
• Emotion coaching and co-regulation
• Safe, meaningful Forest School delivery
• Positive, respectful approaches to behaviour and boundaries

𝗔 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Working with 2–3s is not just about “care” or “supervision.” It’s about laying the foundations for confidence, self-worth, and lifelong learning.

Through muddy walks, first friendships, and moments of “I can do it!” we witness transformation. Every scraped knee, shared toy, or whispered question is a step toward becoming.

Working with 2–3-year-olds blog written by Demi Eastment