I agree at 2.5 they are still very much into 'learning through play' ... open ended creative experiences where they just 'explore the mediums' verses trying to create anything cause they are still very much about the process of painting, coloring, drawing and so forth, they are still very sensory orientated right up until well past when they outgrown our programs - so playing in water, sand, goop, play doh and other sensory things.

The children in my program range from 12 months to 6 years of age ... I do not plan much different for the older ones than the younger ones persay the environment is set up with a wide range of open ended materials that can be used differently depending on the ages and interest of the children .... regardless of what is offered in the program the infant uses it one way and the 6 year old uses it another way but they both derive meaning and enjoyment from it based on their age and stage.... be it setting out paint and paper or engaging in block play or singing songs at story time, the fabric bin is 'sensory' for the infants but is 'dress up options' for the older kids and so forth.

The only 'difference' between age group is during 'free play I do have things available as 'table toys' that you have to be 'earn' the right to explore with them by showing me you are big enough to go sit at the table with them ... so the children have to 'request' that they come down and I bring them down for them ... so for example the light table has items for ALL ages to explore and can be explored on the floor with the infants or older kids - however it also has some things that are not for ALL AGES and you have to sit up at the higher table with it to explore those - so some small reflective items you have to be past the mouthing stage and throwing stage to explore with cause the rule is play safe play respectfully with them - you need to be able to keep them up on the table away from those who still put things in their mouth

I opt for the teachable moments during play to reinforce ABC, 123 and other 'school readiness' things verses having actual 'lessons' in these things for children .... so for example the kitchen centre has clipboards, paper and pencils on strings attached to the boards for 'taking orders' in the resteraunt, doing 'work' in the office, responding to 'emergency' when a Dr and so forth and they practice early 'writing skills' through their play ... depending on their age they 'scribble' and as they gain interest and awareness they start asking 'how do you print' and I will create word books for them with their 'words I want to know' so they can go and look it up for themselves and we add new words as their vocabulary and interests grow .... learning like this IMO has way more value and longevity of learning ... I have kids in care who are not in school but can read and write many short familiar words from their interests and life - not because I sat them down and did 'lessons' on this but through their play they have be exposed, shown desire and so forth.

We sing finger plays and other activities that reinforce counting and one to one correspondence and so forth ... there is a LOT of math naturally in our everyday play!

Children are 'STUDENTS' for 6 hours a day for 14 years by the time graduate from highschool add another 3-6 years of post secondary depending on what they want to 'be' when they grow up .... that is lots of time for 'academic style learning' to prepare them for life .... you only get to be a CHILD for 4 years and IMO we need to allow those years to be filled with magic, wonder and fun filled PLAY where you get to master creating thinking and problem solving through play, risk tasking as you try new things in your play, empathy, resilience, conflict resolution and other social skills with your peers as you engage in team work oriented play and negotiating role play and other play themes that childhood is rich with ... these are the skills the 'childhood' should focus on - the skills that will allow them to be life long learners of 'academic' things