Toddler School in Redwood City
Safari Cub Toddler Care: A Structured, Play-Based Program Starting at 18 Months
At Safari Kid Redwood City, our toddler school in Redwood City is built around a named, research-driven program: Safari Cub Toddler Care. Welcoming children from 18 months, the program draws on Montessori and Reggio Emilia philosophies alongside our proprietary WISDOM Learning Path to structure how toddlers grow across five development domains. The result is a daily experience that feels warm and child-led while giving parents a clear picture of how their child is progressing.
We serve families from Redwood City and the surrounding Peninsula who are often making their first school decision. We know that’s not a small thing. Safari Cub Toddler Care is designed to earn your confidence through consistency, communication, and teachers who genuinely know your child.
Call (650) 747-6681 or contact us online to learn more about toddler schools in Redwood City today!
Why Redwood City Families Choose Safari Kid for Their Toddlers
Choosing a toddler program comes down to trust, safety, meaningful learning, and real personal growth. Our nature-inspired classrooms and caring educators create a warm environment built on Montessori and Reggio Emilia principles, balanced with open-ended exploration. We tailor instruction to each child’s strengths and interests so every toddler feels seen and valued.
- Whole Child Development: We nurture Cognitive Development, Social and Emotional Development, Language and Literacy Development, Physical Development, and Health and Care Development together, not in isolation.
- Family partnership: Ongoing communication, regular assessments, and school events keep you engaged and informed at every stage.
- Modern, nature-inspired facilities: Our well-equipped environment supports active learning, movement, and creative play.
- Qualified, compassionate educators: Our teachers build honest connections, model respect, and encourage collaboration in every interaction.
Families in our program value the real-time updates they receive through Procare, our secure parent communication platform. Consistent routines, healthy snacks, and familiar faces help make each drop-off smooth. Our campus is designed for comfort and safety, and that intentionality shows in how toddlers settle in and grow throughout the year.
What Sets Safari Cub Toddler Care Apart from Standard Daycare
Safari Cub Toddler Care is a structured curriculum program, not a holding environment. Each day includes guided lessons, art, music, movement, and cultural experiences woven into a routine that supports group skills and individual discovery. Practical life skills are part of the day too: putting away materials, washing hands, and building the small habits that support self-confidence.
Our toddler classroom is led by teachers who know this age group deeply. Yina Estevez brings over 20 years of experience teaching toddlers and pre-K and holds a B.A. in Psychology from San Francisco State University with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education. Rebeca Lozano (Becca) is also part of our toddler teaching team, providing the consistent, familiar presence that toddlers rely on to feel secure. Named, consistent teachers aren’t a detail. At this age, they’re the foundation of everything else.
- Guided daily activities: Outdoor painting, block building, sensory play, stories, and songs give toddlers varied, purposeful experiences every day.
- Practical life integration: Self-help routines support executive function development starting at the toddler stage.
- Procare updates: Parents receive daily notes so you know how your child’s day went before pick-up.
- Gentle transition support: Personalized routines and consistent teachers can help new toddlers ease into the program.
The Enrollment Journey at Our Redwood City Toddler School
We support each family from the very first visit through your child’s ongoing learning journey. Here’s what enrollment looks like at Safari Kid Redwood City:
- Personalized welcome meeting: We learn about your child and answer your questions about our curriculum, daily routines, and what the first weeks look like.
- Gradual classroom introduction: We guide your toddler into the Safari Cub environment at their own pace, building comfort before full days begin.
- Structured daily routines: Teachers introduce early language, math, self-care, and social skills through stories, songs, and play in age-appropriate ways.
- Ongoing communication: Procare updates, progress check-ins, and open touchpoints keep you connected to your child’s daily experience.
- Community connection: Family events and engagement activities build relationships among families, children, and staff throughout the year.
Meeting Redwood City’s Standards for Toddler Care
Our program meets Redwood City and California requirements for health standards and adult-to-child ratios in early childhood care. During orientation, we cover what to pack, how drop-off works, and what transitions look like throughout the week. Predictable schedules and gentle routines are among the evidence-based approaches we use to support toddlers through the highest-anxiety moments of the day: arrival, meals, nap, and departure.
Call (650) 747-6681 or contact us online to learn more about toddler schools in Redwood City today!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Old Are Children in the Toddler School Program?
Our Safari Cub Toddler Care program welcomes children starting at 18 months. Most toddlers in the program range from 18 to 36 months before transitioning to Entry Level Preschool as their skills and readiness develop.
What Is the Typical Class Size at Your Redwood City Location?
We keep class sizes small to ensure each toddler receives personal attention from their teachers. Our ratios meet Redwood City and California guidelines for safe, supervised early childhood care.
How Do You Help Ease the Transition for New Toddlers?
We use a gradual introduction process supported by consistent teachers and daily Procare updates for parents. Familiar faces, predictable routines, and personalized check-ins give new toddlers the security they need to open up to learning.
Do Children Get Outdoor Time & Nap Time During the Day?
Yes. Our daily schedule includes outdoor play to support gross motor development and a rest or nap period that is developmentally appropriate for children aged 18 to 36 months. Both are built into the program every day.
How Do You Keep Parents Involved During Their Child’s Time in the Toddler Program?
Families stay connected through daily Procare updates, regular progress reports, school events, and ongoing communication with our teaching team. We treat the relationship with parents as a partnership, not a one-way update stream.
Schedule a Tour with Our Redwood City Toddler Team
Denise Miller-Maciag, Director of Safari Kid Redwood City, leads a team that is genuinely committed to each child and family we serve. If you’re ready to learn more about Safari Cub Toddler Care, we encourage you to schedule a tour and see the program in person. Watching toddlers move through their day, interact with materials, and connect with their teachers gives you a far clearer picture than any description can.
Our team can answer your enrollment questions, walk you through what a typical week looks like, and help you understand how the program supports your child’s growth from 18 months onward. Call (650) 747-6681 to connect with our team and take the first step toward enrollment.
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Cognitive
We encourage curiousity and a love for learning that inspires children to explore and discover.
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Social
Children learn vital social skills through activities that emphasize cooperation and sharing.
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Language & Literacy
Communication skills are developed through interactive and engaging activities.
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Physical
We ensure children build strong, healthy bodies while fostering a love for movement.
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Emotional
Our approach to emotional learning helps children recognize, express, and manage feelings.
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Health & Care
Children learn to recognize and attend to their own needs, those of others, and the environment.
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Whole Child DevelopmentWe nurture academic, social, emotional, and physical development through play. -
Cutting-Edge CurriculumResearch-backed education provides an invaluable headstart. -
Welcoming EnvironmentThoughtfully designed facilities foster curiosity, safety, and rich learning.
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2005The first Safari Kid Launches in Newark, CA
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2007Safari Kid’s Eclectic Philosohpy is Introduced
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2008The Proprietary Booklet System is Released
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2009After-School Programs & Summer Camp Launch
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2011The Safari Kid Toddler Program is Launched
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2014The Safari Kid Infant Program is Launched
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2015Environmental Guidelines Are Developed
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2020The Kindergarten Program is Launched
Five Development Domains in the Safari Cub Toddler Care Program
Safari Cub Toddler Care addresses five core development domains every day. These aren’t separate subjects on a lesson plan. They’re woven into every activity, routine, and interaction so toddlers build across all five areas at once.
Cognitive Development
Toddlers build foundational thinking skills through hands-on exploration. Activities include recognizing shapes, colors, and early number concepts, working through simple puzzles, and expressing ideas through art and sensory play. The goal at this stage is curiosity and problem-solving confidence, not academic performance.
Language & Literacy Development
Between 18 and 36 months, language acquisition accelerates rapidly. Our program supports this by encouraging toddlers to follow simple directions, express wants and needs verbally, join basic conversations with peers, and explore books by pointing to words and pictures. Daily stories and songs are central to this domain.
Physical Development
Large motor skills develop through balance beam walks, tricycle riding, and obstacle courses. Fine motor skills grow through sensory exploration, manipulation of objects, and activities that build hand-eye coordination. Both are built into the daily schedule because physical development at this age directly supports readiness for more focused tasks.
Social & Emotional Development
Our teachers guide toddlers in identifying and understanding their emotions, taking turns, engaging in cooperative play, and modeling positive interactions with peers and adults. These skills don’t develop on their own. They require consistent, intentional support from educators who know each child well.
Health & Care Development
This domain helps toddlers begin making healthy choices, building self-awareness, and developing the early stress management and emotional regulation skills that support lifelong wellbeing. Practical habits like hand washing and tidying materials after use are integrated naturally into the day, giving toddlers real ownership over their routines.
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School environment is exceptional. Very colorful, bright, and playful environment, which attracts children’s attention.Katie LO
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The dedicated staff at Safari Kids create a nurturing and stimulating environment, making it a perfect place for early childhood development.Sushma Venkatayogi
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I would recommend safari kid to anyone looking for a great experience.Jill Turek
The WISDOM Learning Path: Safari Kid’s Curriculum Framework for Toddlers
Most toddler programs describe their approach in general terms: play-based, nurturing, child-centered. The WISDOM Learning Path is different because it names the stages. It’s Safari Kid’s proprietary curriculum framework, and it guides how toddlers move through learning experiences from their first days in the program as they continue toward preschool.
According to the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, more than one million new neural connections form every second in the first years of life. That’s why the structure behind a toddler program matters. WISDOM gives parents a concrete framework for understanding what their child is experiencing and why.
- Wonder: The classroom environment is designed to inspire toddlers to ask questions and reach for what’s just beyond their current understanding, through sensory-based exploration and hands-on discovery.
- Imagination: Pretend play and creative expression are built into daily routines. A toddler’s natural inclination toward make-believe is one of the most powerful learning tools available at this stage.
- Security: A safe, nurturing environment isn’t a nice-to-have. For toddlers, it’s a developmental prerequisite. Children who feel secure are children who are open to learning.
- Discussion: Communication skills are emphasized throughout the day. Toddlers are encouraged to ask questions, join conversations, and express themselves in an environment that takes their voices seriously.
- Observation: Our teachers actively monitor each child’s growth against developmental milestones for the 18-to-36-month stage, using what they see to adjust how and what they teach.
- Mentorship: Passionate teachers meet children where they are and bring parents along as genuine partners. It’s a collaboration built on trust and shared goals.
Ready to See the Safari Cub Toddler Care Program in Person?
The best way to understand what we offer is to visit. Families who tour our Redwood City location get to see toddlers moving through their day, engaging with materials, and connecting with the teachers who know them. Safari Cub Toddler Care feeds naturally into our Entry Level Preschool program, so the learning journey continues without disruption as your child develops.
Call (650) 747-6681 or contact us online to schedule your tour and take the first step toward enrolling your toddler in the Safari Cub Toddler Care program in Redwood City.
