About ‘Being Two’

Two year olds are a very distinct group...

They truly are a category all of their own, but are often lumped into a broad category known as the 'Under-Threes'. The developmental changes between children who have just passed their second birthday and children who have almost reached their third birthday are enormous and their needs are rather specific.

By two… 

• children have become mobile explorers who have started to develop their independence.
• their language skills have not necessarily developed enough for them to make their needs clearly known.
• most do not yet have the social skills to manage turn-taking, sharing or waiting, so their emotions may erupt quickly.
• they need more sleep than three year olds yet are much more active learners than babies.

Two year olds need adults…

• who are ‘tuned in’ to their distinct needs.
• who have a good understanding of how young children develop.
• who respond, support and plan for their individual needs.
• who are aware of, and value, their fluctuating emotional and physical needs.

'Our Image of the Child’

Our experience working with children between the ages of two and three has given us a clear picture of a child who is contented and actively learning at Nurture Nursery.

Nurture Nursery staff have developed a list of features that we think best describe what we see in children who are settled, deeply involved in their play, and learning most effectively when at Nurture Nursery. We encourage the development of these attributes which help forge sound foundations for their life long development and learning - 'Our Image of the Child’.

Feeling secure

Our experience tells us that until a child trusts and is comfortable with us and our setting, they cannot relax and begin to explore and learn. 

Feeling secure is the first quality we foster in any child who comes to Nurture Nursery.

Curiosity and delight!

Young children’s natural curiosity (the definition of which is ‘a strong desire to know or learn something’) leads to discovery, exploration, wondering, testing, questioning and, rapidly extends children's abilities, knowledge and creativity.

That curiosity often leads to delight. The delight of a two-year-old is always something to behold; a clear indication that a child is being rewarded solely by the sheer pleasure of a new discovery, experience or feeling. This is the true essence of learning through play.

Optimism and resilience

'Life is not about how fast you run or how high you climb but about how well you bounce!'

A child must believe it is possible they 'can' achieve something challenging in order to be brave enough to try. Being ‘optimistic’ - someone who takes a favourable view of events and hopes for a positive outcome in a situation - gives children the courage to take risks and challenge themselves .

However, what helps a child to cope when they do not achieve what they set out to do…

and what encourages them to keep trying? It is ‘resilience’ - to withstand or recover quickly from difficulty.

‘Optimism and resilience’ are interlinked - we see them as a joint characteristic. We see each child as an individual always supporting and encouraging children with sensitivity.

Achieving & progressing

When children succeed in what they set out to do they gain confidence, skills and understanding. This enables them to move on to the next level of learning.

Achieving and progressing are connected and one cycles through to the other; steadily propelling children's learning and development onwards.

Self-esteem

Self-esteem makes children feel worthy of the attention of others, confident they will be liked, and that they are able. Most importantly, a healthy self-esteem protects children emotionally when things go wrong. Children must feel valued and heard to strengthen and develop this very positive characteristic.

Becoming an effective communicator

Children are communicators from birth – a necessity to stay alive and thrive.

When children discover that others can be a great source of fun, new ideas and experiences their future learning and life skills can be truly enhanced.

Children's early experiences of being with others can have a powerful impact on developing effective communication skills. Becoming an effective communicator is beneficial in every way and a precious life enhancing skill.

Communication is not only about talking but learning to manage your feelings, gaining social skills, making yourself understood and learning to understand others.

‘Two-year-olds’ need to gain these skills naturally and,.... at their own pace.

Being the unique individual they are!

In Nurture Nursery we feel very strongly, and perhaps most importantly, that each child should feel at ease just being themselves, knowing they will be treated with respect and valued for all their individual characteristics, quirks, sensitivities, strengths and difficulties.

Just appreciated for being the unique little person they are.

‘A Shared Understanding’

The very heart of our staff’s role in Nurture Nursery is to form strong relationships with parents as your children make their first gentle steps of independence.

Acting together as a strong partnership in supporting your child’s individual needs, well- being, development and learning is a huge benefit to us, but most importantly to your child.

We want to work with you, hear your thoughts and seek your opinions and ideas, telling us all about your child and what you hope your little one will gain by being at Nurture Nursery.