Infant and Toddler Classroom

In early learning environments, children acquire knowledge and develop cognitive, social and emotional, physical and language acquisition skills in the content areas such as language arts, math, science, and social studies in a variety of ways. It is up to the teachers to plan and implement in-depth studies of themes and topics that are meaningful and relevant to the children, being sure to address the development of the whole child while integrating all of the content areas. In the physical classroom the environment should provide students with hands-on opportunities to grow and develop skills, gain knowledge, and have fun as they explore carefully designed learning centers. They should be provided with materials that are related to creative arts, dramatic play, manipulative toys/blocks/puzzles, sensory experiences, and listening and reading opportunity. Daily routines starting with taking attendance, calendar and weather time, and snack time also provide daily exposure and practice of skills and knowledge.

Piaget 's Theory: An Overview
Piaget 's stage theory of cognitive development is a stage theory and it proposes that, in the development of our thinking, we go through an orderly and predictable series of stages. Stage theories have been applied to many other aspects of human behavior as well -notably to the development of personality. This ongoing that keeps us advancing from stage to stage and adjusting is the process called adaptation. Adaptation occurs in two ways. First, there is assimilation, which occurs when we incorporate new information into existing mental structures that would cause a child to shake a new guitar like a rattle as they have other toys. When it does not work out the way they expect, accommodation must be made.
THE SENSORIMOTOR STAGE: LEARNING TO REPRESENT THE WORLD INTERNALLY The first of Piaget 's stages lasts from birth until between 18 and 24 months. During this period -the sensorimotor stage can be divided into sub-stages.