OUR TURQUOISE GROUP FOR BABIES AND TODDLERS
Since the 1st of February 2010, we are a full house! Our seventh group, Turquoise Group (Gruppe Türkis), has opened, where we look after eight children aged between 3 months and 2.5 years.
The first room is dedicated to music and movement. For this reason, the main surface of the room is kept free and, if necessary, provisioned with changing elements of movement. Musical and movement-promoting materials frame the room. A piano and other instruments, a large mirror and climbing structures are available at all times. Twice a day, all the children of the four toddler groups can take advantage of this great room for an hour.
The room at the back is also furnished on for infants and toddlers. Drawing a concept from a rainbow, there is a custom-made second level, based on our own designs. It gives the possibility for children to experience first-hand climbing experiences, while a proportionate step in height and depth gives way for the kids to test them easily and safely. There’s also a drawer where a hidden pull-out ball pool is available for the youngest children. The changing table is positioned low, as with all of our young children’s groups, so that the children can climb it themselves.
Less is more! Instead of a lot of play materials which often act as stimulus for children, we place on less in numbers but very high-quality materials, which are reachable by the children on their own. This leaves enough space to move freely in the bright and spacious rooms.
The third room is enclosed and reserved for resting and sleeping. Here, children can always find a quiet, darkened and well-ventilated setting and use at their own pace, in order to meet their natural need for rest and sleep. For the youngest babies, a bassinet is available; older children sleep in the crib at first before transitioning later to the mattress.
The quiet area of the Turquoise Group is called the “Snoezel room”, which contains objects specifically to promote relaxation. Using a lava lamp, standing water column and/or a mirrored disco ball, we can create an atmosphere, which promote wellbeing, along with musical setting.