A Thoughtful Beginning for Your Toddler

Your toddler is growing and changing every day, and choosing the right early learning environment is an important decision for your family. You want a place where your child feels safe, understood, and encouraged to explore with confidence. Families throughout Walnut Creek and the surrounding East Bay communities trust KLA Schools to provide a nurturing foundation during these meaningful early years.

Our Nido Toddler program, designed for children 13 to 23 months, offers a warm and engaging environment where your child can explore, communicate, and begin building independence. Through thoughtful guidance and purposeful experiences inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach, we support your toddler's development while partnering closely with your family to celebrate each new milestone and discovery.

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What Makes Our Nido Toddler Program Special?

Your child’s growth and well-being guide everything we do in our Nido Toddler program. Within a nurturing and inviting environment, curiosity is celebrated, early friendships take shape, and confidence develops day by day. Through thoughtful guidance and meaningful experiences, your toddler is encouraged to explore, communicate, and build independence with reassurance and care.

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A Carefully Prepared Space for Learning

Toddlers learn by doing. Our thoughtfully arranged classrooms invite hands-on discovery, creativity, and early problem-solving through purposeful play. Sensory experiences, art, and engaging learning areas give your child opportunities to explore, experiment, and build confidence in a setting that feels both inspiring and secure.

Dedicated and Supportive Educators

Our educators provide the consistency, warmth, and reassurance toddlers need to feel safe and valued. With strong preparation in early childhood development and positive guidance, they offer individualized care that nurtures emotional growth, social skills, and emerging independence.

Supporting Emotional and Social Development

The toddler years are filled with important social and emotional milestones. We gently guide children as they learn to express feelings, practice empathy, and connect with peers. These daily experiences help build a strong foundation for healthy relationships and continued growth.

Discover Our Nido Toddler Program

Each day in our Nido program follows a thoughtful rhythm that helps toddlers feel secure, comfortable, and ready to explore. Familiar routines, balanced with the flexibility to respond to each child's individual needs, create opportunities for play, shared experiences, nourishing meals, outdoor exploration, and restful moments. This nurturing approach fosters independence, confidence, and a sense of security as children move through their day.

Morning Routine: A Gentle Start

Each morning begins with a warm welcome to help your toddler transition smoothly. Songs, simple gatherings, and movement create a sense of belonging and set a positive tone for the day ahead.

Storytelling and Early Language

Through stories, music, and conversation, your child is encouraged to listen, participate, and express ideas. These daily experiences nurture vocabulary, communication skills, and a growing love for books.

Hands-On Discovery

Open-ended materials and sensory experiences invite your toddler to explore through touch, sound, and movement. As they experiment and discover, they build focus, creativity, and early problem-solving skills.

Outdoor Exploration

Time outside is part of our daily routine when the weather allows. In safe, age-appropriate spaces, toddlers move, climb, and explore, strengthening coordination and confidence while enjoying fresh air.

Shared Mealtimes

Meals are calm and social moments that encourage independence and healthy habits. With gentle guidance, your child practices self-help skills and connects with friends around the table.

Rest and Renewal

A quiet rest period provides time to recharge in a peaceful setting. Educators remain nearby to offer reassurance, helping your toddler return to the day refreshed.

Afternoon Creativity

Music, movement, art, and imaginative play fill the afternoon with opportunities for self-expression. Your child ends the day feeling joyful, engaged, and proud of their discoveries.

A Thoughtfully Designed Curriculum for Toddlers

Your toddler learns by exploring, observing, and interacting with the world around them. Inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach, our educational program nurtures each child's natural curiosity through meaningful experiences that encourage creativity, communication, and growing independence. Thoughtfully designed environments invite exploration while supporting cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development every step of the way.

Language & Literacy

Through daily conversations, shared stories, and imaginative play, your child expands vocabulary and strengthens communication skills. Read-aloud moments, songs, storytelling, and early mark making, such as drawing and scribbling, gently support emerging literacy in playful and meaningful ways.

Early Math & Problem-Solving

Toddlers begin exploring numbers, patterns, and relationships through hands-on discovery. Sorting, counting, building, and simple cause-and-effect experiences encourage reasoning, spatial awareness, and early mathematical thinking.

Sensory Exploration

Sensory experiences invite your child to learn through sight, sound, touch, and movement. Textured materials, water play, nature exploration, and music deepen concentration, coordination, and curiosity while supporting whole child growth.

Music & Movement

Music and movement are part of each day, encouraging self-expression and physical development. Singing, rhythm activities, and dance foster creativity, coordination, and joyful connection with others.

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A Partnership Between Families and Educators

At KLA Schools of Walnut Creek, we believe your child's early learning journey is strengthened through a meaningful partnership between home and school. We value open, ongoing communication and work closely with your family to support your toddler's growth, celebrate new milestones, and ensure each child feels known, understood, and cared for. Through daily updates, thoughtful reflections, and meaningful conversations, we keep you connected to your child's experiences while fostering a seamless connection between home and school.

A Safe, Nurturing Environment Where Toddlers Thrive

Your toddler's well-being is at the heart of everything we do. Our thoughtfully prepared learning environments provide a safe, nurturing space where children feel comfortable exploring, building relationships, and growing in confidence. Attentive educators, comprehensive health and safety practices, and carefully maintained classrooms create an environment where children can thrive. Nutritious, well-balanced meals, including allergy-conscious options, further support your toddler's healthy growth and development.

Real Stories from Our Parents

Families throughout Walnut Creek choose KLA Schools for an early learning experience where relationships, curiosity, and a deep respect for childhood guide every day. Our Reggio Emilia-inspired approach nurtures each child's natural desire to explore, helping them build confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning in a caring and supportive community.

Take the First Step in Your Toddler’s Learning Journey

Your toddler's first school experience lays the foundation for a lifetime of learning. At KLA Schools of Walnut Creek, our Nido Toddler program provides a warm, relationship-centered environment where children are encouraged to explore, discover, and grow with confidence. Guided by the Reggio Emilia Approach, we nurture each child's natural curiosity while partnering closely with families throughout every step of their early learning journey.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What age group is the Nido Toddler program designed to support?

At KLA Schools of Walnut Creek, our Nido community is created for children 13 to 23 months. During this stage of rapid growth, we tailor experiences to meet each child where they are. Younger toddlers are encouraged to explore movement and sensory discovery, while older toddlers are gently guided toward greater independence, communication, and early foundational skills.

How do you ease the transition into preschool for toddlers and parents?

Starting in a new environment can feel big for a little child and for parents, too. We take the time to get to know each child truly so they feel seen, understood, and cared for. Our educators offer lots of gentle encouragement and consistent daily routines that help children feel secure. We also work closely with families during the transition period so your child builds trust at their own comfortable pace.

How are rest periods supported throughout the day at your Walnut Creek preschool?

Rest is thoughtfully included in the daily rhythm. Toddlers are offered a quiet and soothing space for naps or relaxation, with attentive educators nearby to provide comfort and reassurance as needed.

What role does outdoor time play in the program?

Outdoor experiences are an important part of each day when conditions allow. In safe, thoughtfully prepared spaces, toddlers explore, climb, and move freely, strengthening coordination and confidence while enjoying time in nature.

NIDO: EXPLORE OUR COMPREHENSIVE TODDLER CARE PROGRAM