If your child is nearing 15 months, you might be wondering: should we move up to Our Time or stay in Village for one more term? This is one of the most common questions I get - and it’s a good one. The answer? It depends on your child, your family, and your goals. And the great news is: there’s no rush and no wrong choice.
Our philopophy springs from genuine respect for each child’s individual rate of development. Our class activities are designed to honour, support, and celebrate the wonderful uniqueness of each child. Unfortunately, too much in our society pushes independence too soon and too fast. Busy Bees offers something different — a space where your child’s rhythm is respected, and the needs of the whole family are considered. Both are perfectly valid and based on what will best support your child’s development and enjoyment right now.
Understanding the learning mode and class experience can really help in deciding what’s right.
🐝 Village (6–15 months): Learning mode: Primarily Receptive
Babies begin by absorbing the world mainly through their senses, focusing on exploring and experiencing. Over time, many start to imitate simple actions and sounds, gradually becoming more active participants instead of just observers.
A Village class experience:
Your kiddo's POV: I am hearing, feeling, and seeing so many different things. My brain is making connections very quickly but I don’t even know it yet. All I know is that I love my grownup.
🐝 Our Time (15 months–3 years): Learning mode: Primarily Imitative
At this stage, young toddlers are actively watching, copying and trying out new behaviors. They become more independent and curious, testing out ideas, and starting to direct their own play within social and guided settings.
Class experience:
Your kiddos POV: I can control my voice and my body. I am learning to move my body in new ways by trying out all kinds of things. My grownup helps me.
What should I consider in moving to Our Time?
Beyond your child’s readiness, there are also practical and emotional factors that can help shape your decision. Things like nap timings, travel distance, whether the class time fits your week, or even the comfort of staying with friends whose children are still in Village — these are all real and valid. If you’ve just joined our program this term, it’s also perfectly reasonable to want a bit more time to settle in before changing things up. Every family comes to class for a slightly different reason. Some are looking for connection, some for routine, some for a gentle weekly outing. The journey of parenting is about balancing all of these moving parts, and your choice doesn’t need to be just about milestones — it can also be about what feels manageable, meaningful, and right for you right now.
Moving up isn’t just about age — here are a few other things to think about:
Your goals: Are you supporting emerging independence, or is shared bonding time still a priority for your child and your family?
The class environment: Where do you see your child thriving? Do they need a little more stimulation, or are they benefiting from being the “big frog in the little pond,” building confidence in a familiar setting?
Developmental signs of readiness: Your child may be ready to move up if they walk confidently and explore different ways to move, follow simple instructions and shift focus with transitions, use words or gestures to communicate, begin to imitate sounds and actions, show interest in peers and group activities, and participate in short sequences or routines.
If they’re still gaining confidence in these areas, that’s okay too. Another term in Foundations can be exactly what they need to feel safe, successful, and connected.
And most importantly — are they enjoying the class? Try to prioritise pleasure over performance. Emotional connection fuels all other areas of development.
This is exactly the kind of conversation I love having with parents. I see your child each week, and you see them every day. Together, we can figure out what feels right.
Whether that means staying in Foundations for one more term to deepen early connections, or moving up to Our Time for more interaction and independence, there’s no pressure. We’ll meet your child where they are and support them from there.
If you're unsure, you’re very welcome to try out an Our Time class before deciding. If you've missed a session and have a catch-up to use, I’ll simply apply it to an Our Time class. If not, we can do a one-off swap from your regular class. Sometimes, the best way to know is to experience it together.
Let me know if you’d like to talk it through or book a trial class.
Miss Tania 💛 🐝 🎶
