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Welcome to the Toddler Centers

 12 months - 3 years

We have three distinct Toddler Centers for students ranging in age from 12 months to 3 years. Each classroom is a well-planned learning environment with developmentally appropriate materials and furnishings.

What to Expect

Our Toddler teachers continue to nurture trusting relationships and support positive separation from parents/guardians, providing a bridge between a toddler's conflicting need for security and independence. As children transition from the Infant Center, individual nap and feeding schedules are replaced with predictable and consistent routines where the needs of individuals and the needs of the group are consistently evaluated for optimal balance.

Explore the boxes below to learn more about our program.

Center Hours
Overarching Goals
Daily Schedule
Communication
Provisions & Supplies
Breakfast & Lunch
Toilet Training
Medications & Rememdies

Visit additional Centers by clicking on the buttons below.

Contact Us

Please complete the contact form below and our Assistant Head of School for Admissions will reach out to you. Thank you.

Dee Blechta 

Home Center Director,

Toddler 1

Dee has been working in Mead's Child Care program since 1986. A graduate of the New York Foundling Hospital for Infant & Child Development, Dee worked in the Greenwich Hospital Newborn Nursery, and was a co-founder and teacher of the "Little People's Playgroup", Greenwich Hospital Association.

Dee was happy to bring her experience in Early Childhood Education to Mead to continue to articulate how infant-toddler care is much more than just custodial care, but is truly caring and educational as well. In her free time, Dee enjoys gardening, spending time with friends, and caring for her grandchild.

Julia Moylan

Home Center Director,

Toddler 2

Julia has been a teacher in Mead's Child Care since 2010. Julia received her Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education and Business Administration, and completed her teaching internship at Mead. While interning with us, she fell in love with Mead's approach to teaching and has been with us ever since.

Julia finds it rewarding to help a child understand their emotions, and to help children gradually work through them in a safe environment. She also loves to give her students opportunities to be independent while teaching them important life skills to take with them as they grow. 

In her free time, Julia enjoys spending time with her husband Tim and their children, Kaleigh and Declan, both students at The Mead School.

Jennifer Petersen

Home Center Director,

Toddler 3

Jen studied General Fine Arts at Maryland Institute of Art, Baltimore MD, and has her Child Development Accreditation from Norwalk Community College. She came to Mead in 1997 where she began working with children in the Infant room. Throughout her Mead career she has worked in every center except Toddler 2! For several years, she worked  as a "Specials Director" in multiple centers, suppring Toddler 3,Preschool and Pre-K, by taking small groups of students for Movement class and yoga, Dramatic Arts, and Nature experiences. 

Children from toddler years through Pre-K make the biggest cognitive and physical growth in their lifetime. To this day, she's always amazed at their transformation she witnesses from September to August each year.

Jen enjoys painting and cooking and being a Mom to both of her children who started attending the Mead School as infants and graduated from the 8th grade.