Infant Care and Toddler Program | Columbia, MD
Your baby’s earliest years are filled with incredible growth, discovery, and connection. During this special stage of life, every interaction helps shape your child’s development, relationships, and sense of confidence. At Columbia Academy, our infant care and toddler classes provide a nurturing environment where babies and toddlers feel safe, supported, and inspired to explore the world around them. Through loving caregivers, thoughtful routines, and meaningful play, our program helps your little one build the foundation for future success while giving families the peace of mind they deserve.
Infant Care and Toddler Program Enrollment
Ages Served
6 weeks to 2 years
Schedule Options
Full-time and part-time enrollment available, depending on classroom openings.
Hours
7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday
Is Potty Training Required?
Potty training is not required. Our caregivers support babies and toddlers through each stage of development while working closely with families as children grow.
Curriculum Focus
Our infant care and toddler care program is thoughtfully designed around a research-based approach that nurtures your child’s development during these precious early years. Through sensory exploration, language-rich interaction, and meaningful social connections, babies and toddlers begin to discover the world around them. With caring teachers and devoted caregivers guiding each moment, children learn through play, hands-on discovery, and warm relationships that help them feel safe and loved. These early experiences gently build cognitive skills, creativity, and confidence, giving your child a strong foundation for growth, learning, and future success.
Daily Routine
Little ones follow individualized schedules designed in partnership with families, ensuring each child’s feeding, sleeping, and play rhythms are respected. Toddlers participate in gentle daily routines that include circle time, baby classes, outdoor play, music, creative activities, and opportunities to explore their environment with confidence.
Classroom Experience
Our classrooms are intentionally designed for young explorers. With low 3:1 student-to-teacher ratios, babies and toddlers receive attentive care from consistent caregivers who stay with them during their early years. This continuity helps children build strong relationships while learning essential social and developmental skills.
About Our Infant and Toddler Program
At Columbia Academy, our mission is to create meaningful learning opportunities that help every child grow into a confident, responsible, and valued member of their community. That journey begins with our youngest learners. In our infant care and toddler programs, we see each baby and toddler as a unique individual with their own personality, curiosity, and potential. Through individualized attention and a whole-child approach to education, our teachers and caregivers nurture your child’s development with warmth, patience, and encouragement, helping your little one feel secure, supported, and excited to explore the world around them. From the earliest months of life, babies and toddlers are encouraged to explore, build relationships, and develop the skills that support lifelong learning.
From 6 Weeks to 2 Years: Child Development Support For Every Stage
Research shows that nearly 90 percent of brain development occurs during the first five years of life, which makes high-quality early learning experiences essential for future success. Through nurturing relationships with caregivers, stimulating play experiences, and engaging activities, our program helps babies and toddlers build the cognitive, social, and emotional foundation that will support them throughout their educational journey.
- Individualized Development Support - Every child grows at their own pace. Our educators take time to understand each child’s interests, abilities, and developmental stage. This personalized approach allows babies and toddlers to develop new skills while feeling supported and secure.
- Hands-On Exploration and Play - Young children are natural explorers. Through sensory play, creative activities, and interactive learning experiences, infants and toddlers develop cognitive skills while learning about the world around them. These opportunities to explore and play help strengthen problem-solving abilities and creativity.
- Pretend Play and Imagination - As toddlers grow, pretend play becomes an important part of learning. Through imaginative play, toddlers begin to build social skills, practice communication, and develop creativity. These experiences also strengthen emotional development and collaboration with peers.
- Strong Relationships with Caregivers - Meaningful relationships are essential during the early years. Our teachers and caregivers provide consistent care and nurturing guidance so each child feels safe, valued, and supported. These connections help babies and toddlers build trust and confidence.
- A Safe and Nurturing Environment - Our classrooms are thoughtfully designed to support early development. Each space is organized with engaging materials that encourage exploration and creativity while ensuring babies and toddlers remain safe and comfortable throughout the day.
Infant and Toddler Program Enrollment and Registration
Families are welcome to visit our campus throughout the year to see how our infant care and toddler programs support each child’s development. Our small class sizes and low student-to-teacher ratios mean that enrollment spaces fill quickly. Families seeking infant care, toddler classes, or baby classes in Columbia, MD, are encouraged to plan a visit early to secure their child’s place in our program.
Why Families Trust Columbia Academy in Columbia
For more than 30 years, families throughout Columbia have trusted Columbia Academy to provide exceptional early childhood education and nurturing care for their children.
- Teachers complete 12+ professional development hours annually, ensuring our educators stay current with the latest research in early childhood education and child development.
- 100% of faculty and staff undergo thorough background checks, giving families confidence that their children are cared for by qualified professionals.
- Low infant and toddler student-to-teacher ratios allow our caregivers to provide individualized attention that supports each child’s development and emotional security.
- 96% of our students meet or exceed the GOLD® Readiness Benchmark, the national standard used by leading private preschools to measure kindergarten readiness and academic preparedness.
- Integrated STEAM opportunities introduce children to science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics through hands-on exploration and creative problem-solving.
- 100% of students study a foreign language, art, and music, supporting creativity, communication skills, and cultural awareness throughout their education.
- Our elementary and middle school classrooms maintain a 16:1 student-to-teacher ratio, ensuring students receive personalized instruction and support.
- State-of-the-art playground equipment provides safe spaces for active play while supporting physical development and social interaction.
- Four indoor recreation rooms keep children active and engaged even when the weather keeps them indoors.
- A 1,200-square-foot library with over 8,300 books encourages a love of reading and lifelong learning for students of every age.
- 100% of elementary and middle school classrooms are equipped with SmartBoard technology and Google Chromebooks, supporting modern, interactive learning experiences.
A Private School Serving Columbia, Maryland
Columbia Academy serves families throughout the Columbia area with convenient locations and flexible scheduling:
Columbia Academy proudly serves families throughout the Columbia area with convenient campuses designed to support children at every stage of learning. Many families begin their educational journey with our infant care and toddler programs before moving on to our preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school programs. This continuity helps children build lasting relationships and confidence as they grow.
A Day in the Life: Infant and Toddler Care
Wondering what your child's day will look like at Columbia Academy? For our infants, we work closely with parents to ensure our caregivers follow the eating, playing, and sleeping schedule that works best for their family. Our toddlers follow a more structured schedule, but there's still room for variance to meet each child's developmental needs. The following shows a sample schedule from one of our toddler classrooms:
7:00 - 8:30 Self-Directed Exploration When students arrive they get to acclimate by enjoying a time of self-directed exploration, moving about our centers and expressing what they're interested in for the day.
8:30 - 9:00 Morning SnackYoung learners need fuel for the day, so a morning snack gets enjoyed promptly. Eating with peers also provides an important opportunity for social and emotional development.
9:00 - 9:15 Diaper Changes and Handwashing Diaper changes and handwashing provide an important opportunity for teachers to connect with each student and teach them about health and hygiene.
9:15 - 9:30 Circle Time Circle time starts with an engaging story, and may touch on pre-skills for mathematics, science, technology, language, and literacy, depending on the day.
9:30 - 10:00 Special Class Students enjoy a different special class each day, introducing them to the arts, physical activity, language, and literacy.
10:00 - 10:15 Center Time Center time allows for additional self-directed exploration, and helps students learn to work both independently and collaboratively with friends.
10:15 - 10:30 Art and Sensory Exploration Art and sensory exploration becomes a favorite activity for toddlers. During this time they can get messy, express their creativity, and develop fine motor skills.
10:30 - 11:00 Outside for Play Time Whenever weather permits, we head outside for play time on our age-appropriate playgrounds. Students develop gross motor skills, as well as social emotional skills.
11:00 - 11:15 Diaper Change and Handwashing When students return to their classrooms, we re-acclimate with a diaper change and handwashing.
11:15 - 11:45 Music and Movement Music and movement time allows students to sing, dance, and explore a variety of instruments.
11:45 - 12:00 Story Time Story time - the benefits of reading aloud to young children cannot be overstated.
12:00 - 12:30 Lunch Lunch provides not only adequate nutrition, but another opportunity for students to connect with their peers and develop vital skills.
12:30 - 12:45 Diaper Change and Handwashing Each student gets a new diaper and has help washing their hands after lunch.
12:45 - 1:00 Story Time An additional story time helps students wind down for afternoon rest.
1:00 - 3:00 Nap Time Nap time remains so important for infants and toddlers, as their bodies and brains need to rest and recharge, which maximizes their learning.
3:00 - 3:15 Diaper Change and Handwashing As students wake from their naps, they have a diaper change and wash hands.
3:15 - 3:45 Afternoon Snack Afternoon snack gets much anticipated, and provides the energy needed to finish the day strong.
3:45 - 4:15 Center Time Center time allows students to express what they want to learn for the afternoon and move freely throughout the classroom.
4:15 - 4:45 Sunshine, Fresh Air, and Free Play Students head outside for sunshine, fresh air, and free play.
4:45 - 5:00 Story Time or Music and Movement This time gets utilized as either story time or a music and movement lesson.
5:00 - 5:15 Preparation for Dismissal In preparation for dismissal, students get diapered and assisted with handwashing.
5:15 - 6:00 Self-Directed Play As students wait for their parents to pick them up, they engage in self-directed play.
Columbia Academy Parent Reviews
"My son has been at Columbia Academy for 1 year and 7 months and we love the program. He has been with the same teacher since he started at 6 weeks old - this was one of the reasons we chose Columbia Academy. We feel very comfortable with his teacher and all the teachers in the preschool, as we know he receives continuity of care, love, and a quality education. We love receiving updates and photos daily on how our son progresses. We remain so very happy we chose Columbia Academy as a place for our son to learn and grow."
- Elias R.
Other Programs Available at Our School
Our preschool program helps children build confidence, early academic skills, and meaningful friendships through hands-on learning, creative exploration, and a nurturing classroom experience that supports the whole child.
Our transitional kindergarten program gives children the gift of extra time to grow academically, socially, and emotionally before entering kindergarten, helping them feel more secure, capable, and ready for what comes next.
In our kindergarten program, children strengthen reading, math, science, and social skills through engaging lessons, individualized support, and meaningful experiences that prepare them for elementary school with confidence.
Our elementary program encourages students to think critically, build character, and deepen their academic understanding in a supportive environment where their unique strengths are seen, valued, and developed.
Our middle school program helps students grow into confident, thoughtful young people through strong academics, leadership opportunities, character development, and the support of educators who truly know them.
Our before-and-after-school care program provides families with dependable support in a safe, caring environment where children can enjoy structured activities, social time, and a smooth transition around the school day.
Our summer programs keep children engaged through fun, enriching experiences that encourage creativity, exploration, and continued growth while school is out.
Other Programs Available at Our School
Our preschool program helps children build confidence, early academic skills, and meaningful friendships through hands-on learning, creative exploration, and a nurturing classroom experience that supports the whole child.
Our transitional kindergarten program gives children the gift of extra time to grow academically, socially, and emotionally before entering kindergarten, helping them feel more secure, capable, and ready for what comes next.
In our kindergarten program, children strengthen reading, math, science, and social skills through engaging lessons, individualized support, and meaningful experiences that prepare them for elementary school with confidence.
Our elementary program encourages students to think critically, build character, and deepen their academic understanding in a supportive environment where their unique strengths are seen, valued, and developed.
Our middle school program helps students grow into confident, thoughtful young people through strong academics, leadership opportunities, character development, and the support of educators who truly know them.
Our before-and-after-school care program provides families with dependable support in a safe, caring environment where children can enjoy structured activities, social time, and a smooth transition around the school day.
Our summer programs keep children engaged through fun, enriching experiences that encourage creativity, exploration, and continued growth while school is out.
Frequently Asked Questions
At Columbia Academy, our infant care and toddler classes focus on nurturing the whole child through meaningful relationships, exploration, and hands-on learning experiences. Research shows that the early years are a critical period for development, with nearly 90% of brain growth occurring before the age of five, making high-quality early learning environments essential for future success.
Through responsive caregivers, sensory exploration, and individualized attention, our program supports cognitive, social, and emotional growth while helping babies and toddlers build a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
Schedule a Tour!
Your child’s earliest years shape their future in powerful ways. At Columbia Academy, our infant care and toddler care programs are designed to nurture curiosity, confidence, and strong relationships that support lifelong learning. We invite you to visit our school, meet our educators, and see firsthand how our safe and nurturing classrooms help babies and toddlers explore, play, and grow.