As teachers at Learning Ladder Academy, more often than not, we’re asked what the difference is between the terms Twaddler vs Toddler. Most parents are unsure of these terms and how they relate to child development. We will go through the differences between a Twaddler vs Toddler, so you might know which stage your little one might be and what you should expect from our programs.
Understanding the Terms Twaddler vs Toddler
First, let’s break down each of these terms. Indeed, the term “toddler” is very familiar, and it refers to children between 12 to 36 months old. The term “Twaddler” is not as commonly used and might be utilized by some early learning centers to refer to some age brackets within toddlers. At Learning Ladder Academy, we refer to children from 24 to 30 months as Twaddlers. This is a bridge or transition program between the younger toddlers and preschoolers.
Key Differences Between Twaddler vs Toddler
The main difference between Twaddlers and Toddlers, however, is in the stage of their development. Toddlers are a broad category with a wide reach on skills and milestones. A Twaddler, on the other hand, is just one age group with typical characteristics. In most cases, a Twaddler has more developed language, fine and gross motor skills, and the emerging tendencies of independence. They’re often on the cusp of potty training and able to engage in more complex play scenarios than the younger toddlers.
Twaddler Program Curriculum
Our Twaddler program at Learning Ladder Academy is designed to nurture these budding skills. We engage in activities enhancing communication, promoting social interaction, and encouraging problem-solving. Our curriculum includes daily circle time to help promote group participation and language development. Phonics activities introduce early literacy skills, and we continue using sign language as a tool for communication. Our many physical activities both indoors and outdoors teach beginning gross motor skills. Most importantly, we begin introducing potty training concepts while closely collaborating with the parents to support this important milestone in a child’s life.
Toddler Program Curriculum
The toddler program is for the younger set of our friends, which ranges from 12 to 24 months. Our curriculum at this age focuses on sensory exploration, basic language development, and foundational motor skills. It’s filled with music, movement, and tactile experiences that stimulate the rapidly developing senses. Simple art activities like finger-painting outline fine motor skills. We introduce concepts like colors, shapes, and numbers through play processes.
We, at Learning Ladder Academy, know that this is a huge transition from Toddler to Twaddler. That’s the reason our programs have been designed to support this progression seamlessly. Our Twaddler vs Toddler approach ensures that every child gets proper care and education according to their age.
Tailor-made learning experiences
Another benefit of separating Twaddlers from Toddlers is that it gives them better learning experiences. Twaddlers are getting more independent and developing their communications, so they are ready for more structured activities. Our Twaddler program involves more group activities and introduces the most basic concepts in a very, very play-based fashion. For example, we might work on some early math concepts around counting using songs or playing shape-sorting games.
Social-Emotional Development
Another major difference between Twaddler vs. Toddler is the Social and Emotional development. Generally, twaddlers play better beside peers but begin to become interested in cooperative play. Our Twaddler program facilitates these interactions with situations set up for children to practice sharing, turn-taking, and simple problem-solving with friends.
Language and Communication
Language development is part of both our Twaddler vs. Toddler programs but is approached differently. Vocabulary is expanded in the Toddler program with a focus on the use of simple phrases. With our Twaddlers, we add more complex sentence structures and encourage the children to think about and verbalize their thoughts and feelings.
Physical Development and Motor Skills
While both Toddlers and Twaddlers are fine-tuning their motor skills, Twaddlers are typically prepared to take on more challenging physical tasks. Our Twaddler program offers activities that expand both gross and fine motor skills, such as obstacle courses, ball games, and also more intricate art programs.
Preparing for Preschool
One of the major objectives of our Twaddler program is to prepare the children for their future transition to preschool. We will introduce concepts and routines that will be familiar in a preschool setting to aid in making this transition easier. This may include lengthening circle times, implementing more structured learning activities, and increasing emphasis on self-help skills.
At Learning Ladder Academy, we believe that knowing the difference between Twaddlers and Toddlers empowers us with the ability to deliver the most fitting and valuable learning experiences possible for each child. Rest assured that our programs, whether your little one be a Toddler or a Twaddler, are especially designed to cater to their special needs and foster growth and development.
Remember that every child grows and develops at his own pace, while the Twaddler and Toddler categories are guides. More important is the fact that each child has to be given the loving care, attention, and stimulation that he or she needs for budding. At Learning Ladder Academy, we do just that—where your child will learn, grow, and get prepared for their future educational journey.
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