”The best teachers teach from the heart, not from the book.”
2 New York City Locations:
406 West 55th Street, New York, N.Y. 10019 (between 9th and 10th). Tel: 212.757.2145
Email: ST55@SmarterToddlerPreschool.com
100A West 89th Street, New York, N.Y. 10024 (between Columbus and Amsterdam). Tel: 212.721.4964
Email: ST89@SmarterToddlerPreschool.com
Contact us about opening a Smarter Toddler Center in your neighborhood! Tel: 212.757.2145
Smarter Toddler Quick Facts:
Philosophy: Arts based early childhood schools with a Reggio Emilia focus
Student Ages: 3 months to 5 years
Hours: 8am - 6pm | Monday - Friday
Schedule: Full Time or Part Time
Calendar: Open all year except major Holidays
Buzz: Featured in Time Out New York Kids Magazine and New York Family Magazine
(((((((( OPEN HOUSE - TOURS )))))))))
Both Smarter Toddler Centers have only a few spots left for Immediate
Enrollment for the Popular Summer Program (July and August)
Join us for a tour and a rare chance to enroll!
West 55th Street Tour - Tel: 212.757.2145
THURSDAY - JUNE 25 - 10:00 am
406 WEST 55th Street (between 9th and 10th Avenues).
West 89th Street Tour - Tel: 212.721.4964
FRIDAY - JUNE 26 - 10:00 am
100A WEST 89th Street (between Columbus & Amsterdam Avenues).
Translate This Page:
Smarter Toddler prides itself with being a multicultural school with families from over 20 countries represented. We believe that this is a good thing because at a young age the children learn to respect and appreciate people from all walks of life. Use the following instructions to translate this site into 8 languages. Please excuse us if the translation is not perfect.
It seems that every early childhood center says that they provide children with a warm, loving, fun environment that focuses on the educational and physical development of each child. At Smarter Toddler we go a step further. . . The caregivers, teachers and management believe that the Artistic, Cultural and Social development of each child is also essential.
At Smarter Toddler we recognize and encourage the amazing potential children have to learn.
Whether your child is “very active” or shy, our teachers will custom design activities that work best for them.
If you feel that your toddler can benefit from a more stimulating environment, call us today to arrange a visit. Smarter Toddler accepts students from infant to 5 years. Choosing a nursery or preschool is one of the biggest decisions you will make, which is why at Smarter Toddler, you will find a great service and fantastic care and education for your child.
2 year old Mark creates a sidewalk mural with chalk paint.
Photos of the New Smarter Toddler Location!
55th Street and 9th Avenue - near Columbus Circle and Lincoln Center. Click the orange arrow to see a few photos of the new Smarter Toddler.
Smarter Toddler Articles: African Art and Japanese Lighting for Toddlers! - Smarter Toddler in New York City Leads the New Look of the Modern Preschool.
Smarter Toddler at 55th street is featured in New York Family Magazine!
Smarter Toddler Chooses Flickr.com to Host Chinese New Year Celebration Pictures!
Smarter Toddler Is Featured In Time Out New York Kids Magazine!
Smarter Toddler Preschool Is Chosen By The Early Show On CBS To Host A Safety Caps Study.
Parents Enjoy Dishes from Over 20 Countries at the Annual Smarter Toddler Multicultural Potluck Luncheon.
Smarter Toddler Preschool Expands Their Arts Curriculum With The Award Winning Music Together Program.
Smarter Toddler Calls For Nationwide Ban on the Phrase Terrible Two's.
Bono`s Red Campaign Comes To Smarter Toddler Nursery and Preschool.
Careers
at Smarter Toddler: Smarter Toddler Teachers Rock! If you care about children, if you have their development, their future, and their best interests at heart, then you're exactly the kind of warm, caring childcare professional we're looking for! We believe that the children we have under our care deserve the very best. So do not bother contacting us if your standards are not extremely high. Click the orange arrow to view Smarter Toddler's new
career page.
Paint Like Pollock Activity:
At Smarter Toddler, Jackson Pollock is known as the artist who "paints like a toddler" because of the splattering style of painting he is famous for. Try this interactive Jackson Pollock painting activity with your toddler. It is used to introduce new colors and to teach clicking control of the computer mouse. When you see the blank page simply move the mouse to paint and click the mouse to change the color. Remember to discuss the colors. (Ages 1+) Enjoy!
Music CD Spotlight:
It has been proven that children respond
to music as early as in the womb. So at Smarter Toddler music is important. We not only play
traditional children's music like Raffi and Laurie Berkner, we also play
World Music, Jazz, Classical, Reggae and Alternative Music etc. The "Big Noise" compilation
is our pick of the month, which was actually a gift to Smarter Toddler
from one of our parents.
Artist of The Month:
We are known for our arts program. So every
month we focus on the work of a world famous artist. We use examples of
the artist's work to teach colors, shapes, basic math and opposites. This
month the 2 and 3 year olds are studying the work of world famous painter
and sculptor Ellsworth Kelly. Help your child to identify shapes and colors in Ellsworth Kelly's Artwork.
Musical
Instrument Spotlight:
Our younger students love these Tap-A-Tune
Pianos by Little Tikes so we keep buying them! So far we have 11 of them
and counting.
9 Months of Pregnancy in 20 Seconds:
Carlin's husband took a picture of her every other day while she was pregnant with Ella. This short video is the result of their efforts.
ABOUTUS
- The first thing you notice when you step inside Smarter
Toddler is how colorful, warm and sunny everything is. The second thing you notice is happy,
smiling children. We offer hands on learning, using all senses to maximize
the potential within each child. Parents love the bright, inviting musical spaces with Jazz or World Music playing on the speaker system and how everything is labeled to help encourage the love of reading. Smarter
Toddler was developed around the idea that quality childhood care and education
should be homelike. From the vintage toys, low height lounge chairs to the homey lamps and tons of original artwork, everything was carefully designed to make children feel like they are at home. The 2 outdoor playgrounds nearby allow the children to do what they
like to do best... play!
Likewise, the experienced staff is dedicated
to making your child's time full of love, learning and fun each and every
day. They teach and foster respect by allowing children to think for themselves,
make decisions, work toward their own solutions to problems, and communicate
their ideas. Smarter Toddler teachers encourage toddlers to pour their own juice and preschoolers
to become actively engaged in clean-up. We accept children ages 3 months
- 5 years.
OURCURRICULUM
- Your child is unique! That's why we have developed
programs with each and every individual child in mind. Our curriculum and
programs have been developed for children from 6 months to 5 years of age.
Infant
(3
months to 12 months) Infants six to twelve months of age are
cared for and nurtured by our professional staff in their own private and
personal environment filled with color and stimulation to meet the needs
of their development. Caregivers provide support to infants throughout
the day with a balanced routine and are alert to babies' cues. The environment
is set up to foster infants' physical, sensory, social, emotional and intellectual
development. Every baby has its own unique schedule which cannot be dictated
by another baby. The sleeping and eating rhythms of individual babies are
planned by a team consisting of the caregiver and the child's parents.
Eating, sleeping, playing and cuddling are all part of the day. Caregivers
stay in tune with the rapidly changing needs of each baby as he or she
grows. A daily individual journal is kept on their progress of early development
stages, which is a communication vehicle between parents and staff. Planning
this schedule together will allow a smooth transition for baby from home
to Smarter Toddler.
Waddler
(12
months to 18 months) Waddlers range from twelve to eighteen
months of age. This program has been designed to develop a sense of awareness
in the area of color, sound, textures and feelings and the curriculum prepares
the Waddler towards their first step of independence before entering into
the Toddler program. Daily activity reports are provided.
Toddler
(18
months to 3 Years) Our Toddlers enjoy safe and protective
surroundings to explore and develop new abilities. Small and large muscle
coordination is developed through outside and inside free play with age
appropriate toys. Toddlers are learning to explore the sights, sounds and
textures of the world. Newly mobile toddlers want to take off in all directions
at once. However, they have a need to feel safe and
secure in their environment so that they can continue to develop their
love of learning.
Toddlers learn
by: Doing - Toddlers
learn best when they are engaged actively in challenging and meaningful
activities, such as dressing up in hats and scarves to pretend to be mommy
in the dramatic play area or using a paintbrush and paper to create a rainbow
in the art area. Smarter Toddler caregivers provide toddlers with lots
of opportunities to engage in singing, dancing, reading and jumping.
Observing -
Toddlers learn "how the world works" by observing and interacting with
objects around them. For instance, boats in a tub of water will stay on
top (float), but a toy car falls to the bottom (sinks). Our caregivers
provide an environment that allows toddlers to make observations and ask
questions about the world around them.
Playing -
Toddlers strive for a warm and safe environment in which to play. It is
important for them to feel confident and self motivated to explore the
world around them. Play is a child's work. The Toddler Curriculum
ensures that your toddler's day will be filled with things to explore,
items to see, objects to touch and hugs to give and receive. Each day is
personalized to provide an environment that will develop your child's confidence
and self-control.
Preschoolers
(3 - 5 Year Olds) The three year old will begin to experience
the joy of self-expression in the areas of music, science, arts & crafts,
movement, story hour, cooking and organized games in our supervised play
areas. We also emphasize learning to share with friends and developing
self-help skills and respect for others and materials.
Pretend play - Children acting out
real life or imaginary experiences are trying to make sense or feel in
control of their world.
Art - Scrubbing, tearing, cutting,
painting, rolling and pounding clay are all art experiences that help children
learn how the mind and hands can work together to create. Art assists in
gaining control of hand muscles, which is necessary for pre-writing. Art
experiences can also prepare children for math and science by using colors,
textures, forms and shapes.
Language - Written and spoken words
will help children develop a love for reading that will flourish over a
lifetime. When children use their own language to express feelings or thoughts,
they begin to feel the power of speech. When they sing, listen to poetry,
are read to, and are given time to review books, they experience the joy
of the written word.
Music and movement - Music and moving
the body informally help provide children with a physical outlet. Soothing
music can ease fears and anxiety, whereas dance music can help children
develop motor skills, be silly and have fun. Singing helps children integrate
new words into their vocabulary and experiment with speech patterns.
Manipulative - The doors to the
world of math are opened wide with activities such as stacking blocks,
pegboards and stringing beads, because they offer opportunities to classify,
sequence, sort and match.
Blocks - Decision making, planning,
sharing, cooperating, sense of accomplishment and pre-math skills are just
a few of the familiar skills that a child will develop in the block area.
Science - Basic cognitive skills
of cause and effect are all gained in this exploratory area.
OURTEACHERS
- Smarter Toddler teachers are true professionals in
the field of education for younger children. Our teachers complete an extensive
training period and are responsible for increasing their skills by continuing
education and attending workshops that are appropriate for the age groups
they are presently teaching and providing care for. At Smarter Toddler
you will find teachers who are patient, loving and dedicated to the children
in their care.
