How Family Child Care Providers are Utilizing Neighborhood Villages’ Play-Based Toddler Curriculum

Last year, Neighborhood Villages introduced Learning Through Exploration, our free, play-based curriculum developed in collaboration with educators, curriculum experts, community members, the LEGO Foundation, and Boston Public Schools. 

The current Toddler component of the curriculum is designed for children ages 15 to 33 months, with an Infant component currently in the development process. This open-ended, flexible resource equips caregivers with tools to support age-appropriate development through a series of play-based learning activities. 

Learning Through Exploration: Toddlers was developed over the course of 18 months, successfully piloted in 24 Boston-based toddler classrooms, and, in 2024, was made available to all as a free resource on the NV website, ensuring accessibility for all.

Since its official launch, Learning Through Exploration: Toddlers has been downloaded 1,128 times across 6 continents, 18 countries, and 43 U.S. states by professionals across countless sectors, with caregivers, coaches, consultants, and higher education experts integrating it into their work.

We created this curriculum to be versatile and adaptable based on the unique needs of the children, providers, and care centers using it and we’re thrilled to see growing interest among Family Child Care (FCC) providers!

We recently spoke with Edna Cabral – a Massachusetts FCC provider of 22 years and a participant in our Learning Through Exploration pilot program – about her experience with the curriculum.

Hear more from Edna below!

What have you liked most about implementing Learning Through Exploration in your Family Child Care program?

Edna: What I like about it is it's so flexible and I can make it individualized. The children who are in my program at the moment, they're learning about themselves and I think that—especially in the beginning when you have a new family—that's perfect, for everyone to learn about each other and to build community.

You mentioned that your favorite part about the curriculum is that you can individualize activities. Can you tell me a little bit more how that works in your program?

Edna: Yes. For example, I had a four-year-old who loved to create things; he got scissors and paper and made a costume for his teddy bear with the paper. [I]n the curriculum, there is flexibility to do that. And then, another child who doesn't like to sit down can learn about each other by recognizing that his friend enjoys using scissors. And so with that, learning about us and the community, when you do art together, seeing the children not only explore their own interests but also what we all like and we do it together as a community.

Which of the curriculum’s five Areas of Exploration work best in your setting?

Edna: I think all of the explorations that we have work excellently. We're learning All About Us and doing community and friendship building now. Especially with toddlers, they get to that stage where they need to learn how to share and how to take care of each other. And through the curriculum, we can address that.

Has the curriculum helped keep families engaged? 

Edna: Yes – for example, when I started using it with a Japanese student in our program, we were thinking about equality and inclusiveness. So, we started listening to “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” in Japanese and the toddlers would sing the song. When the student’s mom came to drop off her baby, she heard our singing and she's like, “What are you singing?” She was so pleasantly surprised when I told her. 

So clearly, you know this curriculum inside and out. You were in at the very beginning as a critical friend advising its creation and you're using it every day. Do you have any tips and tricks for a provider who is just picking it up for the first time?

Edna: I would say if you want to use a curriculum Exploration, read it, prepare it, and make it your own. You can incorporate your own ideas, and your own experiences. It doesn't take that long because it's written in a way that’s understandable and easy to follow and implement with the children. 

Are you looking to incorporate play-based learning in your classroom? Download your free copy of Learning Through Exploration today!