Toddler Program at Peppertree Schools
Chickadees and Busy Bees
Peppertree School’s Toddler Program is specifically designed for children between the ages of 1 to 2 years. Our program offers a nurturing environment with qualified staff who love bustling after the Busy Bees and helping our little Chickadees stretch their wings. We provide an engaging space where toddlers can safely explore, play, learn, and develop. All of our programs have a 1:4 teacher-to-child ratio, which allows for plenty of one-on-one attention. We work closely with parents to ensure each child’s individual needs are met.
Toddler Program Overview
- Chickadees Ages ~12 months and up
- Busy Bees – Transition from Chickadee to Busy Bee is determined by the individual child’s development
- Ranch House location
- 14969 Los Gatos Almaden Rd. (at Union Avenue) Los Gatos, CA 95032
- Phone: (408) 626-9200
- ranchhouse@peppertreeschools.com
- 1:4 teacher-to-child ratio
- New families should plan to spend a few hours in the first two weeks introducing their child to the environment to make transitioning to whole days easier for the child, parents, and staff.
- Child does not need to be potty trained
- Daily group nap time from 11 am – 1 pm, no drop offs or pick ups allowed during nap time
Individual Care
At Peppertree, we understand that every Busy Bee and Chickadee is a one-of-a-kind individual with their own developing personality. We strongly believe that every child should have the chance to explore and progress at their own speed, within a nurturing and secure environment. Our team strives to foster each child’s self-discovery while maintaining open communication with parents on a regular basis. We provide daily reports to parents that contain detailed information on their child’s daily routine, including meals, nap times, diaper changes, and engaging activities.
Feeding Schedule
Busy Bees and Chickadees are developmentally able to follow a more structured and regular feeding schedule and will have their meals at roughly the same time every day, eating together with their classmates.
Parents should provide fresh and nutritious meals from home daily, including an early morning breakfast, mid-morning snack, post-nap snack, and afternoon snack. Children who stay until late pick up at 5 pm are encouraged to have a late afternoon snack as well.
Parents should provide each child with their own water bottle or preferred cup to drink from throughout the day. The school can refill the water bottle as needed.
Parents should also provide a box of their child’s preferred individually sealed snacks, such as granola bars or toddler pouches, for days when your Busy Bee and Chickadee is extra hungry.
No food or drink sharing is allowed between children. This ensures your child’s safety and allows you to know that all of your child’s dietary needs are being met.
Napping and Bedding
As part of their developmental growth, Busy Bees and Chickadees can have a regular nap schedule. Infants old enough to transition from the Sweet Peas, or new families, can support developmental readiness by practicing the toddler sleep schedule at home.
Peppertree provides a two-hour midday nap for all Busy Bees and Chickadees.
Nap time is between 11 am – 1 pm. There are no drop-offs or pick-ups allowed during this time, thank you for understanding.
We offer comfy mats during nap time. Mats are covered with a fresh sheet, and children are given blankets. All nap items are washed and sanitized after each use.
Children who refuse a nap are required to lie down for quiet time for a minimum of 30 minutes. Many children fall asleep during this rest period.
Children are welcome to bring a comfort object, such as a blanket or stuffie, to use during nap time.
Diaper Services and Potty Training
Busy Bees and Chickadees are not required to be potty trained.
We provide diaper-changing services as needed throughout the day. Parents do not need to provide diapers for Busy Bees or Chickadees.
Though toddlers do not need to be potty trained we are happy to support parents interested in potty training their child. We work with parents to ensure consistency between home and school during the potty training process. Our staff is patient and gentle, understanding that this process happens when the child is ready.
Parents interested in potty training should talk to the Ranch House Director, Danna Osborn, to learn more about Peppertree’s potty training process.
Play and Enrichment
Our Toddler Program includes indoor and outdoor playtime, with age-appropriate toys and equipment. We encourage children to explore, play, and learn through various activities, such as art, music, and story time. Our Busy Bees and Chickadees engage in self-directed play and are allowed to flit from one activity to the next, as they explore the world with their friends.
Be sure to check your Busy Bee and Chickadee’s art folder to take home all of their wonderful art projects.
Please see our Parent Resources Page for some fun art and music activities to do with your toddler at home!
Communication with Parents
We believe that open communication with parents is essential for providing the best possible care for their children. We provide daily reports on their child’s activities and progress, and we encourage parents to communicate with us about any concerns or questions they may have.
Contact Us
If you would like to learn more about our Toddler Program or enroll your child, please contact us at (408) 626-9200 or email ranchhouse@peppertreeschools.com.
We look forward to hearing from you and nurturing your little ones. Please include the following information when contacting us:
- Your name and phone number
- Age of your child(ren)
- Potty training status (not required for enrollment)
- Number of days per week (up to 5)
- Pick-up time (Regular pick up is 3:30 pm, late pick up is 5 pm)
- Desired start date
