Developmental Stages

The Toddler age

 15mo-2.8 years

 Toddlers have the “face of a baby, the attitude of a teen, and the ability to scream a banshee to get what they want.” If you have experienced life with a toddler, you may sympathize with this. Toddlers may seem like little dragons: energetic, impulsive, and emotionally unstable. However, we cannot underestimate this developmental stage. Like dragons, toddlers are also very curious, creative, smart, confident, intuitive, playful, considerate, assertive, and determined.

At Mi Pequeña Academia we value such positive characteristics of this terrific developmental stage. We like to see our dragons interact together, and with their own caregivers. Through fun games, art, music and movement we create a fun environment for the younger ones to strengthen their capacities and learn Spanish.

 The Pre-school AGE
2.9 years - 4 years

 The third year of age is probably the most crucial time in early childhood. Positive and negative feedback influence the child’s self-esteem. Preschoolers’ emotional development becomes increasingly complex as they learn to distinguish between fantasy and reality, understand friendship, become self-aware, take notice of rules, and learn to decide if a behavior is right or wrong within their family and social groups.

At Mi Pequeña Academia, we see this as the stage of becoming a Hero. Three year olds see friendship as having someone they can play and talk to. They are interested in helping their peers and caregivers. While experiencing fear, three year olds love to feel admired for courageous acts. Such behaviors set the beginning of the recognition of social cues and the development of compassion.

Our Heroes are encouraged to discover their own abilities and fine qualities, recognize their peers as friends, and find opportunities to help others and be courageous. Our Heroes are “trained” in the use of positive ways to express their feelings and manage their emotions. They learn to use their developing creativity to express themselves through art and free scientific exploration. Our Heroes exercise their minds and bodies every day to develop cognitive skills, strong bodies, and healthy habits.

 The Pre-kindergarten Age  

4 - 5 years

Most children at the age of 4 and 5 begin to develop greater independence, concentration, and self-control. They can express their feelings better as their language and cognitive skills have strengthened. In general, children at this age continue to master the necessary skills to self-identify and self-regulate.

Because of the characteristics of this stage, we like to call it the Age of Warriors. A warrior is fearless, brave and experienced. Our Warriors are encouraged to “fight the good fights”, the fights for peace. They continue to be motivated to use alternative ways to solve conflicts, express their feelings and manage their emotions. They are challenged to observe, think, and respond critically and creatively about facts, family, society and culture.

At Mi Pequeña Academia, we also instill good values that our Warriors can take with them and use them for life after they graduate. Our Warriors strengthen their minds and bodies daily to develop healthy habits, and the necessary cognitive, physical and emotional skills for a successful beginning in Elementary school.