Infant and Toddler Program

The Infant and Toddler Program at the Academy of the Sacred Heart is an individualized, developmental program that begins at six weeks of age and continues through age 2 ½.  It is encompassed by the Early Childhood Program, which also includes a Preschool for ages 2 ½-4.

The flexible program provides children with a safe environment in which to explore and to build confidence through play.  Age-appropriate activities are designed for, and specific to, the needs of each child, with weekly themes woven into the structure of the day.  Children listen to music, create art, visit the library, learn finger plays, discuss religion, play in the sand, listen to stories and poems, climb on the play structure, explore the outdoors and become aware of the world around them.

As early childhood educators, the faculty creates a caring atmosphere with myriad opportunities to stimulate the brain during its most active state of development, building a foundation for academic and social successes in the future.  Optimal development of motor skills, sensory integration, visual acuity, tactile awareness and language is central to the program, with areas of focus that include: senses, colors/aromas, choices, sign language, transitions, humor, novelty and repetition. 

Children in the Infant and Toddler Program also benefit from opportunities to participate in the larger Academy of the Sacred Heart community. The interaction between the older and younger children, both within the Infant and Toddler Program and throughout the school, allows younger children to strive and learn from the older children, who in turn have the opportunity to model behaviors and share their knowledge with the younger students.

The Infant and Toddler Program has access to the many resources of the Academy of the Sacred Heart as well. The 44-acre campus includes a nature center, play structures, a multi-sport Field House, media center and chapel in addition to the instructional areas. The dedicated faculty is supported by a professional staff that includes a school nurse and a counselor.