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Tips for Choosing Infant & Toddler Care
Tips for Choosing Pre-School Care
Tips for Choosing After-School Care Options
Daily care of an infant or toddler is a challenge that requires knowledge and effort.
While personal style and values differ in families, these basic principles of good care
for babies apply to all types of care-in home and out.
A good caregiver is Loving and Responsive
Hugs, rocks, cuddles, seeks eye contact and responds to the baby's
smiles, emerging skills and interest, and finds ways to expand upon
each experience.
Sociable and Interested
Talks with the baby about what they do and see, and is a playful partner
who introduces the baby to new ideas, objects, games, and encourages
social contacts.
Respectful of Individuality
Understands and welcomes the baby's development, and recognizes and
tunes into the baby's personal rhythms, style, strengths, and limitations,
and is comfortable with a special need.
Good surroundings for babies are clean, safe and filled with interesting
and stimulating things so babies can explore, try out their natural
curiosities and learn through free play. They should accommodate the
needs of growing infants and toddlers and have well organized and separate
eating and diapering areas.
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*Used with permission of the National Association for the Education and Young
Children.
Programs meeting children's needs should be based on an understanding
of each child's stage of physical, intellectual, emotional and social
development. Programs providing age-appropriate practices will:
Provide children with a place where they feel safe and secure
Allow children choices within limits
Help children develop self-control
Encourage children to respect one another and cooperate
Promote independence and initiative
Inspire the child's individual creativity
Respect diversity and individual needs
Parents' needs are met by knowing that their child is in a nurturing and
educationally appropriate place. Programs aimed at meeting parents'
needs will:
Employ warm, nurturing and competent staff
Respect family's needs, values and cultural diversity
Offer information, resources and supportive services
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Excellent programs meeting students' needs will:
Provide indoor and outdoor space where children feel safe and secure
Provide students with age-appropriate activities
Allow students to engage in supervised small group interaction
Employ competent, trained and caring staff
Inspire the student's creativity
Respect diversity and individual needs
Allow students choices within limits
Set rules which are fair, reasonable and consistent
Offer snacks
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