Course

KC-002 What Do Two-Year-Olds Really Need?

Two-year-old's are arriving in early childhood centres and kindergartens in greater numbers but are our spaces, expectations, and practices truly ready to meet their needs?

In this four-part course, join renowned early childhood thought leader Kimberley Crisp as she explores what it means to create environments where toddlers can flourish.
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This series flips the question: Is Sally ready for Kindergarten? Or is Kindergarten ready for Sally? Together, we’ll look at the biology, behaviours, and big needs of toddlers, and unpack what teachers, teams, and environments must shift in order to support them.

Across four powerful sessions, you’ll discover:

  1. Biology as Blueprint – Understanding development as nature intended.
  2. Rhythm and Emotional Safety – Why predictability and connection matter most.
  3. Understanding Urges – Making sense of toddler behaviours and impulses.
  4. Creating a “Yes” Environment – Designing spaces and mindsets that allow toddlers to thrive, including the role of loose parts.

Key themes woven throughout the series include:

  • Preparing yourself, head, heart, and hands for toddlers.
  • The unique needs of two-year-olds versus older children.
  • Why less is more — and how to slow down to keep up with toddlers.
  • The teacher and team’s role in fostering safety, connection, and joy.
  • Practising “connect before correct” as the foundation for behaviour guidance.

Session 1: Biology as Blueprint

Before we can meet toddlers where they are, we need to understand why they are the way they are. In this session, Kimberley Crisp unpacks the biological and developmental blueprint of the two-year-old. You’ll explore what’s realistic, what’s necessary, and what we must let go of in order to honour toddlerhood in the Kindergarten environment.

Session 2: Rhythm and Emotional Safety

Toddlers thrive when life feels predictable, safe, and connected. Kimberley will guide you through the importance of rhythm — not just in routines, but in how we bring presence, pace, and predictability to our teaching. Learn how emotional safety acts as the foundation for all learning, and what teachers can do daily to create a secure and nurturing environment.

Session 3: Understanding Urges

Climbing, dumping, mouthing, throwing — these behaviours are not “naughty” but deeply purposeful. In this session, we’ll dig into toddler urges, why they happen, and how to respond in ways that support development rather than frustrate it. Kimberley will help you reframe common challenges so that you can see toddlers’ behaviours through a developmental lens.

Session 4: Creating a “Yes” Environment

What if Kindergarten was a place that said “yes” more often to toddlers? This session explores how to design environments that welcome toddler exploration while keeping everyone safe. From loose parts to furniture choices to the mindset shift teachers need, Kimberley shows you how to create spaces where toddlers are free to discover, learn, and belong.

Kimberley Crisp

Early Childhood Professional Development Mentor
Empowering Early Childhood Educators and Parents through Expertise, Innovation, and Lifelong Learning
 kimberleycrisppd@gmail.com
 +64 21 886 465
  • Specialist in heart-centered early childhood pedagogy and practice
  • Over 30 years of experience in early childhood education
  • Co-founder of The Heart School – professional learning and resources for educators
  • Founder of The Nest – a Pikler-inspired early childhood setting
  • Trained at the world-renowned Pikler Institute in Budapest
  • Experienced facilitator, keynote speaker and mentor for centre teams and leaders
  • Developer, designer and presenter of professional learning programmes and workshops
  • Advocate for play, connection, wellbeing and emotionally safe teaching practices
  • Mentor and consultant for early childhood services across New Zealand and internationally

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