
The Whole Child
Babies Are Children Too:
abc's of child development
For parents
for early care providers

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Observational activity
Try to observe in an infant/toddler center of family childcare home for a whole morning or afternoon. Take notes and then write a summary of the following:

Analyze the following statement with regard to your observations: "For infant and toddler caregivers, the single most important goal is to establish warm, caring, attentive relationships with each individual child."

What were the indications that the caregiver established caring relationships with each child? How did the infants and toddlers express their needs and desires? How did the caregiver respond? What sorts of interactions and communications took place between the teacher and each child? What recommendations would you make, if any, for strengthening the relationships between the caregiver and each child?

Activities for the classroom
You are an infant caregiver in a small childcare center or family childcare home. A 9-month-old baby has just been enrolled in your program. After meeting with the parents, you've found out that the infant tends to cry inconsolably whenever the parents leave the room. In addition, the child has never been left with another caregiver for more than an hour or two. What steps would you take to ease the transition to full-time, out-of-home care? Explain why. Describe some of the discussion you would like to have with the parents and suggestions you might make.

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