Birth - Two Years Old
Between birth to about two years old, children primarily learn by using their five senses. They are kinesthetic learners and need to touch, taste, see, feel, listen, bang and shake everything in sight to see how their environment operates. Their sense of time is right now, and their sense of space is right in front of them.
At Seven Branches, we show your children the world in a way they can understand and manipulate. Infants and Toddlers need to know they are loved so they can build a powerful sense of trust with their parents and caregivers. We show this love through respect, patience, affection, understanding, responsiveness and thoughtfulness. We understand your child is your most precious gift from God and we strive to care for them as you would.
Infant Program
Seven Branches Academy provides a “home away from home” atmosphere for your child. We want your child to be in a friendly, loving environment. Our youngest infants are assigned “primary caregivers’’to oversee the well-being of your child.
Our infant room is divided into two groups: non-mobile younger infants (6 weeks to 7 months) and older mobile infants (7 to 14 months). Each child has a dedicated crib and space for personal belongings. We provide everything needed for caring and teaching your child. You only bring personal items.
Our educational materials and curriculum are age appropriate and stimulate the development of emotional, social and physical development. Since we opened in 2013, Seven Branches has provided a “One to Four” teacher to child ratio.
Junior Toddler Program
Our Junior Toddler children range in age from 14 to 23 months. All children in this age group are walking, feeding themselves by hand, and understand most directions given by an adult.
Children this age are very interactive and are learning to express their emotions. With their developing language skills, they can say several single words, say and shake head “no”, and point to show someone or something desired.
Cognitive (learning, thinking, problem-solving) skills are developing and they are learning everything has a purpose.
Children this age can:
- Identify objects such as telephone, brush, spoon
- point to get the attention of others
- show interest in a doll or stuffed animal by pretending to feed
- point to one body part
- follow 1-step verbal commands without any gestures (i.e. sits when you say, “please sit”)
They love being stimulated through art, music and creative movement. Their vocabulary words expand through reading, daily routines, and small group learning activities in a low teacher to student ratio.
Senior Toddlers (Two-Year-Old) Program
Each day starts off with a Bible story that highlights our weekly verse. Our story is guided by our weekly Bible Focus. For our two-year-olds, they truly enjoy reading, singing and dancing.
They love pretend play, problem solving and creativity, with an “I Can Do It” mentality.
Social and Emotional skills blossom in this age group. In this age group, here are a few things you will notice your child may do. They will…
- copy others, especially adults and older children
- get excited when with other children
- show more and more independence
- show defiant behavior (doing what he has been told not to)
- play mainly beside other children
Language and Communication
Two-year olds will point to things or pictures when they are named, say a sentence with 2 to 4 words, follows simple instructions and repeats words overheard in conversation.
Creating a developmentally appropriate classroom is important. Our goal at SBA is to provide learning opportunities and activities both in and outside of the classroom to stimulate cognitive learning. Children learn so much through play such as:
- Finding things hidden under two or three covers
- Sorting shapes and colors
- Playing simple make-believe games
- Building towers of 4 or more blocks