At Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery High Wycombe, children aged 2 to 3 years move into our Toddlers room—a vibrant, engaging environment designed to match their growing curiosity, confidence, and energy. The room is filled with thoughtful furnishings, open-ended resources, and hands-on learning opportunities, all easily accessible so toddlers can explore, imagine, and discover independently throughout the day.
A space made for curious, energetic toddlers
As your child becomes increasingly independent, their need for adult support shifts—but our commitment to attentive, nurturing care remains the same. Each team member works with no more than four children at a time, allowing them to tune into each child’s needs, personality, and interests. This balance of independence and guidance helps toddlers truly thrive.
At this age, children also begin to understand their own emotions and learn how to manage feelings and resolve conflict with gentle support from educators. These early emotional skills help build confidence and positive relationships.
Learning through play, independence and imagination
Toddlers continue to develop across the three prime areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage and are further introduced to four key specific areas of learning:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the world
- Expressive arts and design
Throughout the day, our educators naturally enrich the environment with stories, books, numbers, sounds, and conversation—encouraging curiosity, early language, and problem-solving. Imaginative play is central at this stage, with children exploring stories, role play, and games that help them make sense of their world.
We also place a strong emphasis on developing both fine motor skills (such as using tools, threading, mark-making) and gross motor skills (climbing, balancing, running, jumping), helping toddlers build confidence through movement.
Growing independence and confidence
We actively support toddlers as they develop key independence skills, including:
- Self-serving at mealtimes
- Toileting and beginning to recognise their own bodily cues
- Putting on their coats and shoes
- Taking part in simple routines that help them feel capable and proud
Our toddlers also have plenty of opportunity to express their creativity. Whether painting, crafting, building, or making their own imaginative creations, they are encouraged to ‘have a go’ and take pride in their work.
