Casa Mico-Leão Dourado Curriculum (15 to 30 Months )
Casa Mico-Leão Dourado offers a nurturing environment for toddlers aged 15 months to 30 months, blending Reggio Emilia, Waldorf, and Montessori philosophies to promote independence, exploration, and emotional security through play-based learning and cultural immersion.
Gallery:
Key Components:
Safe and Nurturing Environment
Predictable Rhythms: Consistent daily routines provide security and help children understand transitions.
Natural Materials: A home-like setting featuring soft lighting, wooden toys, open-ended wooden toys, and open-ended play objects.
Play-Based Learning & Sensory Exploration
Heuristic Play: Open-ended materials encourage creativity and problem-solving.
Sensory Activities: Engagement with water, sand, clay, and natural textures. Stimulates the senses and develops coordination.
Outdoor Exploration: Daily nature walks and interaction with the natural world.
Music & Movement: Incorporation of Brazilian rhythms, gentle dance, and simple instruments to promote coordination and cultural immersion.
Social-Emotional Development & Respectful Relationships
Respectful Communication: Caregivers model positive interactions and explain actions gently.
Guided Independence: Children are encouraged to participate in dressing, eating, and self-care independently.
Conflict Resolution: Toddlers learn early social skills, such as turn-taking and expressing needs.
Cultural Community: Songs, lullabies, and stories from Brazilian and Latin American traditions foster a sense of belonging.
Language & Cognitive Development
Storytelling & Read-Alouds: Books in multiple languages and interactive storytelling sessions.
Singing & Repetition: Nursery rhymes and call-and-response songs reinforce language patterns.
Sign Language: Supporting early communication before verbal language develops.
Documentation: Caregivers document children’s learning through photos and notes.
Motor Development & Practical Life Skills
Gross Motor Play: Activities like climbing, crawling, and dancing to build strength and coordination.
Fine Motor Practice: Exercises such as pouring, spooning, and threading to develop dexterity.
Self-Care Encouragement: Allowing toddlers to try dressing, washing hands, and helping during mealtimes.
Outdoor Exploration: Daily time outside to strengthen muscles and encourage body awareness.
Daily Flow & Routines
(Emphasizing predictability and security while allowing flexibility based on children’s needs.)
Morning Arrival & Settling In (7:30 – 8:30 AM)
– Warm welcomes in Portuguese, encouraging connection.
– Free play with open-ended toys (e.g., wooden blocks, scarves, baskets with natural objects).
– Caregivers provide unhurried drop-off support.
Breakfast & Snack (8:30 – 9:00 AM)
– Toddlers sit together at a low table, practicing self-feeding.
– Language-rich interactions: caregivers describe foods and encourage simple phrases (e.g., “Obrigado” and “Por favor”).
Outdoor Exploration & Movement Play (9:00 – 10:30 AM)
– Gross motor activities: climbing, balancing, running, and exploring textures.
– Natural elements: water play, digging in sand/mud, gardening.
– Sensory walks: observing plants, birds, and insects in the yard.
– Loose parts play: stacking, transferring, and filling/dumping.
Lunch & Rest Preparation (11:00 – 11:45 AM)
– Independence in mealtime: self-serving, pouring water.
– Calm transitions to nap: dim lights, soothing music, one-on-one comfort.
Nap Time (12:00 – 2:30 PM)
– Caregivers provide gentle reassurance and allow children to settle at their own pace.
– Those waking early engage in quiet play.
Afternoon Wake-Up & Snack (2:30 – 2:45 PM)
– Gradual wake-up, diaper changes.
– Snack as a social moment.
Afternoon Play & Enrichment (2:45 – 4:00 PM)
– Art & Sensory Activities:
– Finger painting with natural dyes.
– Playdough exploration.
– Water play (pouring, splashing).
– Storytelling & Puppet Play.
– Building & Construction: Play with wooden blocks and soft bricks.
Closing Play & Parent Pick-Up (4:00 – 5:00 PM)
– Calm play activities: soft music, books, cuddle areas.
– Parent handovers with updates about the child’s day.
Location:
Toddler House | 8813 NE Wygant St Portland OR 97220