SMART Kiddies

Our SMART Kiddies group provide shapes to sort, textures to feel, crayons for scribbling and other fine motor skills that target this stage of development. We allow your child to learn by trial and error and exploration through play in a fun environment with you present. He will also have room to run, kick balls, jump, practice walking on tippy-toes and play with toys that allow push and pedal. NALA mw_menu_data_8174_57bd5763cb799.jpg

We integrate opportunities to increase your baby’s cognition into everything we do. Activities are carefully planned to promote cognition in a playful environment. We sing songs and play games that develop knowledge of body parts. Our playgroups provide opportunities for children to increase their understanding of cause and effect, problem solving and other thinking skills.

At NALA, we know a child’s social-emotional development influences all other areas of development. Through our playgroup, we help children identify feelings and put those feelings into words. We encourage you to help children solve problems, but not do it for them. We encourage exploration in a safe environment.

NALA playgroups use stories, songs, games and other activities to model and promote language and literacy development. We also teach parents how to use words to repeat what children say, providing them with more words to help them understand their world. Stories, songs and rhymes are enjoyed.

Physical Development

Cognitive Development

Social-Emotional Development

Language & Literacy Development

Your toddler is changing quickly and becoming very independent. Gross and fine motor skill development include:

Kicking
Squatting
Riding small wheeled toy
Walking with balance and carrying a large toy
String large beads
Remove lids from containers
Nest cups and boxes inside each other
Raise and drink from a cup and place it back on the table

Overall, your 18-24 month old begins to strive for more independence. He is:

Capable of simple pretend play
Learning about cause and effect
Understanding how to use their own bodies and thinking skills to solve progressively challenging cognitive problems.

This is a delightful stage of social emotional development. Your child can now:

Begin to talk
Understand a lot of what you say.
Pretend since her imagination is growing.
Can understand “no” but still has difficulty controlling feelings and actions
Starting to problem solve

Your child is now:

Learning new words everyday
Learning to put two words together.
Better understand nonverbal and verbal communication

At NALA, we understand how children develop physically and provide opportunities to support all aspects of your child’s physical development in a fun, safe environment.

Our SMART Babies group is designed with activities so your baby will build strength and dexterity in his hands and fingers as well as balance and control of his arms and legs for increasing physical development with you at his side.

At NALA, we integrate opportunities to increase your baby’s cognition into everything we do. Activities are carefully planned to promote cognition in a playful environment.

Our SMART Babies recognizes the 12-18 month stage of cognitive development. We know it is important to provide toys that move when pushed and toys that pop up when a part is turned or pressed.

At NALA, we know a child’s social-emotional development influences all other areas of development.

At our SMART Babies group know independence is important, so we provide a safe place for babies to explore and allow choices to be made. We show you how to validate their feelings and help them learn to cope with frustrating situations.

NALA playgroups use stories, songs, games and other activities to model and promote language and literacy development.

SMART Babies teachers model proper speech and encourage parents to do the same. We provide age appropriate, sturdy board books and engage in silly songs and finger play to teach you how to interact and have fun while learning with your baby at home.

Our Curriculumn