Quick answer: A toddler lesson plan is a short written guide for one activity or one day with children ages 1 to 3. Every complete toddler lesson plan includes five elements: learning objectives, lesson materials, lesson procedures, related requirements, and assessment.
Because toddlers hold focus for only a few minutes at a time, a toddler lesson plan is built around brief, repeatable activity blocks rather than long lessons, and it is adjusted by age — a 1 year old, a 2 year old, and a 3 year old need different versions of the same activity. This guide covers all five elements, age-by-age differences for ages 1 to 3, a sample daily schedule for 2 year olds, and four free templates you can download.
Lesson planning is an essential skill for teachers to have. As educators and caregivers, a large part of the job involves harnessing children’s natural curiosity and providing them with engaging learning opportunities that help them develop new skills and knowledge. Creating effective toddler lesson plans is an essential part of this process, but it’s not always easy to know where to start.
With so many different factors to consider, from attention spans to developmental levels, it can be hard to know which elements to include in your lesson plans for toddlers to keep your little learners engaged and excited about learning. In this article, we’ll explore tips for daily toddler lesson plans and discuss how to differentiate your lesson plans for children of different ages, to lay the foundation for a lifetime of learning.
Table of contents
- What is a toddler lesson plan?
- What are the five elements of a toddler lesson plan?
- How do you evaluate a toddler lesson plan after teaching it?
- How do toddler lesson plans differ by age? (1 vs. 2 vs. 3 year olds)
- Sample daily toddler lesson plan for 2 year olds
- Free toddler lesson plan templates and examples
- How to share toddler lesson plans with families
- Toddler lesson plan FAQs
- Bottom line
What is a toddler lesson plan?
A toddler lesson plan is a detailed guide that helps teachers organize the key objectives that children ages 1 to 3 need to learn and how that learning will happen in the classroom. It’s similar to a roadmap showing the learning trajectory for each lesson. Lesson plans help teachers thoughtfully prepare engaging and meaningful activities to stimulate children’s overall development. Teachers ensure that the lesson is aligned with established learning standards and each child’s different learning level so that children can meet learning goals successfully.
Lesson planning also allows teachers to assess the quality of their instruction and make any improvements to their delivery. Teachers can easily monitor class progress and determine what changes they need to make. Planning can also save valuable instruction time by establishing a clear weekly or monthly outline that teachers can follow, while also allowing for flexibility to meet the unique needs of each child. Written plans also make it easier to show a licensor or an accreditor how your program puts developmentally appropriate practice, as defined by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), into practice day to day.
Finally, lesson planning also encourages collaboration between teachers and families. Families can see what their children are learning each day and continue reinforcing learning objectives at home. They can get a clearer understanding of where their child is excelling and what skills or areas need extra attention.
Daily Lesson Plan Template
Use this free template to develop effective lesson plans for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
What are the five elements of a toddler lesson plan?
A well-structured toddler lesson plan ensures you are prepared to help children reach their educational goals. To create a successful lesson plan for the children in your childcare program, you’ll need to consider five components, in this order:
- Learning objectives — what the child will learn and which skills they will develop
- Lesson materials — every handout, supply, and toy the activity requires
- Lesson procedures — the step-by-step outline of how you will teach it
- Related requirements — the national, state, and local standards the lesson meets
- Assessment — how you will check whether children met the objective
Step 1: Write learning objectives
Learning objectives are goals that you hope to achieve with your lesson. Include at least one objective per lesson that states what children will learn and which cognitive, physical, social, and emotional skills they will develop by completing the lesson.
Learning objectives can focus on skills such as understanding the relationship between cause and effect, learning pattern recognition, and identifying colors.
For example, a learning objective for a necklace threading activity may be: “Children will develop their fine motor skills and learn to identify colors and recognize patterns by threading colored beads.”
Step 2: List lesson materials
This lesson plan section lists the materials you will need to teach the lesson. Materials in this section can include:
- Handouts (like coloring pages, worksheets, and laminated flashcards)
- Necessary supplies (like crayons, pencils, paint, construction paper, and scissors)
Lesson plans for toddlers should also incorporate educational materials that encourage the children to play, such as alphabet blocks, musical toys, and color sorting toys.
A list allows you to purchase materials in advance, prepare a budget, and stay organized. You’ll also avoid altering lessons due to a lack of necessary materials.
Step 3: Outline lesson procedures
This section of your toddler lesson plan provides a step-by-step outline of the lesson and explains how you will introduce the lesson topic to the children. The lesson procedure may also describe the methods you will use to teach the material and explain the real-world applications of the skills the lesson will teach.
The constraints of your lesson procedures will differ depending on your teaching philosophy and methods. For example, if your childcare program utilizes the Montessori method, your lessons may prioritize hands-on activities that encourage children to explore materials independently and learn at their own pace.
If your childcare program utilizes a Reggio Emilia-inspired approach, your lessons may prioritize project-based activities that encourage children to explore through collaboration with each other.
No matter what teaching philosophy your childcare program uses, creating an outline of your lesson’s procedures will help ensure that your lessons are focused and aligned with your teaching philosophy.
Step 4: Note related requirements
Related requirements are guidelines that extend beyond the scope of your lesson. This section describes how your lesson aligns with national, state, and local educational standards and your childcare program's teaching goals.
Step 5: Plan your assessment
This section describes how you will assess the children to determine whether they have met the lesson objectives. This section may include a wrap-up activity that tests the children’s understanding of the new concepts, such as questions you can ask the children.
Save time with brightwheel’s Experience Curriculum, a complete curriculum system with learning materials and digital lessons. The flexible lesson plans for baby, toddler, and preschool age groups can be accessed directly in the app and matched to the materials in the monthly curriculum kits. The daily learning experiences incorporate 35 research-based skills into playful games and discovery projects that support children’s social-emotional, physical, and cognitive development.
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How do you evaluate a toddler lesson plan after teaching it?
After you teach your lesson, evaluate your lesson plan. Reflecting on your lesson plan will help you think critically about your teaching methods so you can improve the lesson for future classes.
To evaluate your lesson plan, take notes on how you presented the lesson. For example, suppose you find that you rushed while explaining the activities or explained them too thoroughly and lost the children’s attention. In that case, you may want to adjust the amount of time you allot for instruction before allowing the children to begin the activity.
Asking yourself the following questions after the lesson can help guide your evaluation:
- Did you stray from the plan you outlined?
- Did you allow enough time for the children to ask questions?
- Did the children struggle to complete the lesson or activity?
- Did the assessment show that the children learned the required skills?
- Did any children struggle to understand the lesson?
After asking these questions, consider what you would change about your lesson plan. These changes can help your lesson plan meet your children’s needs and better fit their unique learning styles. You can also better prepare for the children you will teach in the future.
How do toddler lesson plans differ by age? (1 vs. 2 vs. 3 year olds)
Toddlers develop their skills quickly, so a 3 year old has very different needs from a 1 year old. The table below summarizes how to adjust the same activity across the three toddler ages. Plan for shorter activity blocks with younger toddlers and add choice, conversation, and small-group work as children get older.
| Age | Activity block to plan for | Skills to target | Example activity | What to change from the younger age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year olds | 3–5 minutes per activity | First words, picking up small objects, pulling to stand, object permanence | Touch-and-feel or lift-the-flap books; pushing empty boxes across the room | Baseline: keep activities open-ended with no right answer, and plan for constant adult narration |
| 2 year olds | 5–10 minutes per activity | Two-word phrases, running and kicking, using buttons and knobs, holding one item while using the other hand | Shape or animal puzzles; body-part songs such as Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes | Add simple problem-solving with a correct answer, and add materials that require two hands at once |
| 3 year olds | 10–15 minutes per activity | Back-and-forth conversation, drawing circles and basic shapes, stringing items, playing with peers | Read-alouds with open-ended questions; counting games; play dough | Add small-group activities, open-ended questions, and multi-step directions |
Keep the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)’s developmental milestones in mind for each age group when you develop or update lesson plans. This will help you tailor the activities to the children in your care.
If you are caring for children of different ages in the same group, you do not need to develop entirely separate lesson plans for each child. Instead, by being mindful of how the developmental milestones are different for each age, you can make modifications to the activities so their learning needs are met. For example, during playtime, 1 year olds can push objects around and explore the space, while 2 year olds can be given toys with buttons or simple puzzles, and 3 year olds can play with play dough.
Below you will find a brief description of the developmental milestones for 1 year olds, 2 year olds, and 3 year olds, per the CDC’s recommendations, as well as some suggestions of how to differentiate your lesson planning for each age group.
Lesson plans for 1 year olds
What milestones do children reach by 1 year?
According to the CDC, most children reach the following milestones by 1 year:
- Social-emotional milestones: Play games with you.
- Physical development milestones: Pull up to a standing position; walk while holding on to furniture or objects for support; pick up smaller objects with their fingers.
- Language and communication milestones: Wave “bye-bye”; call a parent “mama” and “papa” or an equivalent special name; understand “no” and stop or pause when they hear it.
- Cognitive milestones: Put objects in a container; look for things they see you hide.
What should a lesson plan for 1 year olds include?
- Build on the words the child is trying to say. For example, if they say “ta”, validate and say, “Yes, this is a truck”. Similarly, respond with words when the child points to an object. For example, if they ask for a cup by pointing to it, say, “You want the cup? Here is the cup”, and so on.
- “Read” books with the child. Reading can be talking about pictures. Children this age like books with things they can feel or flaps they can lift.
- Play with blocks and other toys that encourage the child to use their hands, and let them push objects around (for example, empty boxes). This helps the child develop their fine and gross motor skills. Be mindful that while the child needs to move around and explore, they need limits to stay safe. Beyond making sure they are in a space with no dangerous objects, teach the child to respond to “no” by stopping unwanted behaviors.
Lesson plans for 2 year olds
What milestones do children reach by 2 years?
According to the CDC, most children reach the following milestones by 2 years:
- Social-emotional milestones: Look at people’s faces to see how they react to different situations; notice when someone is sad or upset.
- Physical development milestones: Walk up a few stairs with or without help; run and kick a ball; eat using a spoon.
- Language and communication milestones: Point to objects in a book when you ask them (for example, if you ask “where is the truck?” they point to it on the page); say at least two words together (for example, “want toy”); use multiple gestures, beyond waving and pointing, including blowing kisses and nodding yes.
- Cognitive milestones: Try to use switches, buttons, or knobs on toys; play with multiple toys at the same time; hold one item on one hand while using the other hand (for example, holding a box and taking the lid off).
What should a lesson plan for 2 year olds include?
- Help the child learn how the full words sound, even if they cannot say them yet, by repeating the words they say in full. For example, if they say “nana”, repeat by saying in full “you want more banana”.
- Sing songs, such as “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes,” to teach names of body parts. After singing it a few times, see if they sing some of the words when you touch a body part without saying the name.
- Play with toys that encourage the child to use their hands to build things and solve problems. For example, give them blocks to build towers; simple puzzles with shapes, colors or animals; or toys where they can push buttons or pull levers.
Lesson plans for 3 year olds
What milestones do children reach by 3 years?
According to the CDC, most children reach the following milestones by 3 years:
- Social-emotional milestones: Notice other children, and approach them to play together; calm down within 10 minutes after they are dropped off by their parents.
- Physical development milestones: String items together, like beads or macaroni; put on some loose clothes on their own, like a jacket; eat using a fork.
- Language and communication milestones: Ask questions such as “what”, “why” or “where”, such as “where is my mommy?”; describe the actions in a picture on a book, such as “running” or “eating”; talk clearly enough for others to understand; and hold a conversation with at least two back-and-forth exchanges.
- Cognitive milestones: Draw a circle and other basic shapes when shown how; know how to avoid touching hot objects, like the stove, when they are told not to.
What should a lesson plan for 3 year olds include?
- When reading with them, ask questions, such as “What is happening in the picture?” or “What do you think will happen next?” to help them develop both their language skills and their imagination.
- Teach simple songs and rhymes, such as “Itsy Bitsy Spider” or “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”
- Play counting games. Count body parts, stairs, and other things you use or see every day. Children this age are starting to learn about numbers and counting.
- Play with play dough by squishing it, pressing it, pinching it, and making balls in different colors, to build hand and finger muscles and fine motor skills.
Sample daily toddler lesson plan for 2 year olds
This sample covers a full day from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for a classroom of 2 year olds. Activity blocks run 15 to 30 minutes, with a two-hour rest period after lunch. Adjust the blocks to fit your program’s hours, staffing, and licensing requirements.
| Time | Activity | Developmental focus |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00–8:30 a.m. | Arrival and free play | Social skills and independence |
| 8:30–9:00 a.m. | Morning circle time | Language and group participation |
| 9:00–9:30 a.m. | Creative art / fine motor | Self-expression and coordination |
| 9:30–10:00 a.m. | Outdoor play / gross motor | Physical development |
| 10:00–10:15 a.m. | Morning snack | Self-help and nutrition |
| 10:15–10:45 a.m. | Thematic learning activity | Cognitive development |
| 10:45–11:15 a.m. | Music and movement | Language and gross motor |
| 11:15–11:45 a.m. | Storytime and language development | Vocabulary and listening |
| 11:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m. | Lunch | Social skills and independence |
| 12:15–2:15 p.m. | Nap / rest time | Rest and emotional regulation |
| 2:15–2:45 p.m. | Quiet play / table activities | Fine motor and focus |
| 2:45–3:15 p.m. | Afternoon snack | Nutrition and routine |
| 3:15–3:45 p.m. | Sensory play / exploration | Problem solving and tactile learning |
| 3:45–4:15 p.m. | Outdoor play / gross motor | Large muscle development |
| 4:15–4:45 p.m. | Small group activity | Collaboration and following directions |
| 4:45–5:15 p.m. | Closing circle and story | Language and reflection |
| 5:15–5:30 p.m. | Pick-up and free play | Smooth transitions |
Free toddler lesson plan templates and examples
Toddlers thrive in an environment that offers routine and consistency, and a well-designed lesson plan helps to achieve this. A thoughtfully crafted lesson plan allows educators to cater to the individual needs and interests of each child, promoting engagement and active participation. Below are four free toddler lesson plans and templates you can download and adapt.
1. “A is for Apple” toddler lesson plan
Best for: a full week of themed activities for 2 and 3 year olds. This weekly lesson plan includes a variety of activities centered around the theme of the letter “A” and apples.
Download the “A is for Apple” plan (template source: Do Play Learn)
2. Letter of the week lesson plan
Best for: building a repeatable weekly routine around letter and sound recognition. This template focuses on a different letter of the alphabet each week and encourages letter recognition through books, activities, and crafts.
Download the letter of the week plan (template source: This Crafty Mom)
3. “All About Me” lesson plan
Best for: the first weeks of a new school year, when children are getting to know each other. This lesson plan encourages children to share about themselves with their teacher and classmates.
Download all about me lesson plan (template source: Pinterest)
4. Brightwheel’s free daily lesson plan template
Best for: planning any single day, for any toddler age, in a format you can hand to a substitute or share with families. Customize this free, printable template to suit your teaching style and children’s needs. Use this template to identify the learning objectives and record the developmental domains and pre-academic skills each lesson supports.
Download brightwheel’s free daily lesson plan template (template source: Brightwheel)
How to share toddler lesson plans with families
Lesson plans enable communication and collaboration between educators and families, ensuring a cohesive and coordinated approach to learning. Keep families in the loop by sharing milestones, activities, schedules, and lessons through a daily report. This practice can improve communication with families, increase their engagement, and build trust in your program. Among programs using brightwheel, 95% of admins and staff report that brightwheel improves communication with families.
Weekly or monthly newsletters are another great way to bring curriculum visibility to families. You can easily share digital newsletters via email and they’re quick to update and distribute. When families see what their child is learning, they feel more involved in their child’s education and are motivated to engage in school activities and supplement those activities with other learning experiences at home.
Toddler lesson plan FAQs
What are the five elements of a toddler lesson plan?
The five elements of a toddler lesson plan are learning objectives, lesson materials, lesson procedures, related requirements, and assessment. Learning objectives state what the child will learn, materials list every supply the activity needs, procedures outline how you will teach it step by step, related requirements connect the lesson to state and local early learning standards, and assessment describes how you will check whether children met the objective.
How long should a toddler lesson be?
Plan a single toddler activity to last 3 to 5 minutes for 1 year olds, 5 to 10 minutes for 2 year olds, and 10 to 15 minutes for 3 year olds. Toddlers hold focus for only a few minutes at a time, so it is better to plan several short activity blocks across the day than one long lesson, and to be ready to end an activity early when the group loses interest.
How many activities should a toddler lesson plan include per day?
A full-day toddler lesson plan usually includes six to eight planned activities, alternating quiet and active blocks around meals and rest. A typical day for 2 year olds might include morning circle time, an art or fine motor activity, outdoor play, a thematic learning activity, music and movement, storytime, a sensory activity, and a small group activity.
How is a toddler lesson plan different from a preschool lesson plan?
A toddler lesson plan uses shorter activity blocks, more open-ended play, and more adult narration than a preschool lesson plan, and its objectives target emerging skills such as first words, fine motor control, and following one-step directions. Preschool lesson plans can run 15 to 30 minutes per activity, include more small-group and pre-academic work such as letter and number recognition, and expect children to follow multi-step directions.
Do toddler lesson plans need to align with state early learning standards?
In most states, licensed childcare programs are expected to show that their curriculum aligns with the state’s early learning standards or guidelines, and accreditation bodies look for the same. That is why the related requirements section belongs in every lesson plan: noting the specific standard each activity meets turns your everyday plans into documentation you can hand to a licensor or an accreditor without extra work.
How far in advance should you write toddler lesson plans?
Most toddler classrooms plan one week at a time within a monthly theme. Planning a week ahead gives you time to gather materials and communicate the week to families, while keeping the plan recent enough to reflect what the children are currently interested in. Many programs sketch monthly themes at the start of the month, then fill in daily activities the week before.
How do you write one lesson plan for a mixed-age toddler group?
Write one activity with one shared material, then plan a different objective and a different level of adult support for each age. For example, in a bead threading activity, 1 year olds can grasp and drop beads into a container, 2 year olds can thread large beads onto a shoelace, and 3 year olds can thread beads in a repeating color pattern. That keeps the group together while meeting each child’s developmental level.
Where can I get a free toddler lesson plan template?
Brightwheel offers a free, printable daily lesson plan template for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with fields for learning objectives, developmental domains, and pre-academic skills. This article also links to three other free toddler lesson plans: an “A is for Apple” weekly plan, a letter of the week plan, and an “All About Me” plan.
Bottom line
Detailed toddler lesson plans play a vital role in preparing you to teach your children new skills, assess their understanding of the material, and evaluate your teaching procedures. By incorporating key elements such as clear learning objectives, age-appropriate activities, and intentional teaching strategies, you can provide a structured and engaging environment for toddlers to thrive.
Brightwheel is an all-in-one childcare management software that saves time and simplifies operations for early education providers. From billing and parent communication to curriculum and admissions, it combines everything you need in one easy-to-use platform. Trusted by millions of educators and families and backed by a dedicated support team, brightwheel strengthens family connections and ensures seamless operations with reliable performance and robust security. With brightwheel, you’ll spend less time on admin, more time with children.
