Jellyfish
Older Toddlers
18 months to 30 months
1:6 Teacher-to-Student Ratio
Maximum Class Size of 12
About the Jellyfish
Our Jellyfish classroom maintains a 1:6 teacher-to-child ratio. The Jellyfish class is made up of our older toddlers who are preparing to turn two years old. They have access to their own playground, which they share with the Seahorse classroom. The playground is designed to be safe and age-appropriate to support their developmental needs and encourage active play and exploration.
Curriculum & Daily Activities
In this class, children participate in an engaging academic program designed specifically for their developmental stage. Our goal is to introduce early learning concepts in a way that is both fun and appropriately challenging.
During Circle Time, the children read 2–3 theme-based storybooks. They are introduced to colors, shapes, numbers, and letters through stories, songs, and finger plays.
The Jellyfish also participate in daily art activities. These include both crafts and open-ended art related to their current thematic unit. Art time provides a creative outlet while helping children develop and strengthen their fine motor skills. They also enjoy music and movement activities each day.
Throughout the day, the children practice important developmental skills, including socialization, sitting during circle time and art time, eating together, cleaning up after themselves, becoming comfortable with potty training, using good manners, taking turns, and sharing.
Much of the curriculum is centered around thematic units that change throughout the year to reflect the seasons and holidays, helping keep learning engaging and meaningful for the children.
Environment
At our school, the older toddlers are separated from the younger toddlers. This allows us to cap our group size at 12 and keep their learning environment intimate and less crowded.
Developmental Milestones
By 30 months, toddlers will:
Play next to other children and sometimes play by themselves
Shows you what they can do by saying, “look at me!”
Follows simple routines when told, like helping to pick up toys when you say, “it’s clean-up time.”
Says about 50 words
Says two or more words together with one action like “doggie run!”
Names things in a book when you point and ask, “What is this?”
Says words like “I,” “me,” or “we”
Uses things to pretend like feeding a block to a doll as if it were food
Shows simple problem-solving skills like standing on a small stool to reach something
Follows two-step instructions like “put the toy down and close the door”
Shows they know at least one color like pointing to a red crayon when you ask, “Which one is red?”
Uses hands to twist things like turning door knobs or unscrewing lids.
Takes some clothes off by themselves, like loose pants or an open jacket
Jumps off the ground with both feet
Turns book pages, one at a time, when reading to them
Why Scripps Exploring Academy?
By separating our older and younger toddlers at Scripps Exploring Academy, we can keep the group size at 12 and maintain an intimate learning environment. Having the smaller age range in each class allows for the children to build close ties with their peers and improves socialization.
