Welcome to the Perky Penguin’s Room!

Welcome to the young two-year-old room.  Communication between parents and teachers is the key to a successful experience for your child at MudPies.  The PARENT HANDBOOK you received upon enrolling will provide you with a review of the general policies and procedures at our center.  In addition, this note contains special information to help you understand our classroom.  Referring to both, as well as meeting with us to discuss any concerns, will help ease the transition for your family to our classroom.

Our main objective at MudPies is to provide a positive atmosphere in which your child can grow physically, intellectually, socially and emotionally.  Learning experiences appropriate for the developmental age of our group are provided daily.  A Weekly Activity Plan and a Daily Schedule are posted in our classroom for your review.  Notes on the dry erase board outside the classroom door will describe the day’s activities.  These notes can be helpful during your drive home in initiating a discussion of the day’s events with your two-year old.

Caregivers will contact you verbally or through personal notes whenever the need arises.  We also record your child’s activities on a Daily Report.  Diaper changes, potty routines, and nap times will be listed on this form.

Twos are ready for many new learning experiences.  In morning group, your child will learn new songs and nursery rhymes, read stories, name colors and shapes, count and share.  Throughout the day, we will encourage children to do much for themselves while we gently wait in the background and offer positive guidance and help when needed.  Mastering self-help skills allows children to feel good about themselves and is an important step toward positive self-esteem.  We continue the learning process by emphasizing language development, practicing fine motor skills and expanding our attention spans as we are introduced to more table activities.  Most importantly, we play.  Play is our best training for becoming independent!

To alleviate the problems presented when children bring toys to the center (broken toys, disagreements over ownership, lost items); we allow toys to be brought only on Sharing Days.  Our weekly Sharing Day is on Friday.

Special snacks (store bought only) may be provided when parents wish to furnish food for the entire class at snack time or holidays and birthday parties.  Please let us know in advance so that we may prepare accordingly.

Twos are learning to use their bodies, and may still get messy when they eat, paint, glue, play outside or have an accident.  We ask your understanding during this growth period.  Please dress your child in clothes which allow for self-dressing.  Twos want to “do it themselves!”  We ask that you leave TWO SEASONAL changes of clothes (shirt, pants and socks) for your child at the center.  This is a state law and is required in all rooms.

Part of the learning process is in learning responsibility.  We encourage children to put away materials and toys when they finish with them.  You can help by encouraging the same at home.

When your child shows signs of readiness for potty training, we will be happy to cooperate in every way.  In order to work cooperatively, we ask that you:

  • Write down your child’s potty schedule

  • Leave two-three sets of underwear or pull-ups and clothes at the center.

  • Include clothes, which are easy to remove.

  • Tell us your word for “potty”

  • Be consistent; don’t confuse your child by allowing diapers at home.

  • Be lavish with praise.

  • Relax!

 Please help us by signing your child in and out when you arrive and when you pick up your child.  Our staff will be happy to help if necessary.

Lunchtime is at 11:30-12:00 and nap is at 12:15-2:30.  The teachers relieve each other for their lunch hour during naptime!  The children who do not sleep are asked to lie quietly so as not to disturb the other children!

Some children may experience signs of stress when entering a new classroom.  They may cling, act shy, become more aggressive, have bathroom accidents or cry and tire more easily.  These are all normal symptoms of change and will disappear as your child comes to know our routines and us.  You can help by being supportive, cheerful, positive and relaxed.  Bear with the change for a few weeks and we’ll be great friends.  Of course, if you have any discomfort or have questions now, we want to help.  Communication and a great relationship are our ultimate goal.

Together for children,

Perky Penguins Teachers