Drop-In Friendly Toddler Time with Amethyst - Little Animal Explorers

Toddler Time with Amethyst is a play‑based early childhood program at Kidzeum, designed specifically for toddlers ages 1–3 and their caregivers. Each session supports the whole child through hands-on sensory exploration, fine motor development, early cognitive growth, and emotionally responsive adult-child interactions. This program is grounded in an understanding of toddler development, honoring children’s need for movement, repetition, autonomy, and sensory input as they learn. Toddler Time is free with museum admission. Sensory Station — Safari Rice Search Colored rice with hidden animals for scooping, pouring, digging, and discovery. Fine Motor Station — Animal Height Compare Children stack blocks next to animals to explore size and comparison. Art Station — Zoo Coloring Book A simple emergent reader featuring zoo animals, supporting early literacy through repetition. Playdough Station — Zoo Mats Lion, elephant, giraffe, and monkey mats for creating features and habitats. Open-Ended Exploration — Stacking Animal Blocks Children build towers, habitats, and enclosures. Educator Reflection: Zoo play invites big imagination and full-body engagement, supporting both movement and creative exploration. Toddler Time is led by Amethyst Hamm, Kidzeum's STEAM Educator and an early childhood specialist who joined the team in September 2025. Amethyst brings six years of hands-on classroom experience — three years as a lead toddler teacher and three years as a float teacher — and a deep understanding of toddlers' rhythms, curiosity, and capacity to learn through play. They hold an Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education from Lincoln Land Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Illinois State University, along with an Illinois Professional Educator License (K–2) and a Special Education Letter of Approval (birth–2nd grade) . Amethyst also holds their Gateways Level 5 Infant–Toddler Credential and Gateways Level 5 Early Childhood Credential, the highest credential levels recognized for early childhood educators in Illinois — reflecting their advanced expertise in supporting young children's learning and development. Currently, Amethyst is pursuing a Master of Science in Early Childhood Education with an emphasis in Early Intervention, as well as an Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Certificate and a Developmental Therapist Credential. Their ongoing training reflects their commitment to supporting not only children's learning, but their emotional wellbeing and family relationships. In Toddler Time, you'll experience Amethyst's gift for creating spaces where children feel safe, seen, and eager to explore. Every song, sensory bin, and art material is chosen with intention and aligned with the Illinois Early Learning Guidelines — ensuring that play is not only fun, but meaningful.