INFANT CARE PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES Alyssa Barcus Courtney Copeland Rebecca Falge Andrea Hees Melanie McVay Jami Meeks

CHAPTER 7 OUTLINE  

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Infant Care Programs and Practices: Luke’s Story Finding Good Infant Care  Selecting Child Care  Visiting the Infant Care Program  First Impression  Interactions between Caregivers and Infants  Homelike Environment: Supporting Infant Development  Attention to Infant as Individual  Arrival Routine: Welcoming Infants and Parents  Daily Log  Infant and Parent Routine: Transition to Caregiver  Good-Bye Plan  Meeting Luke  Responding to Individual Interests  Connections between Home and Infant Program  Providing Guidance for Infant Behavior  Lunchtime: Respecting Diversity of Families  Conversing and Socialization  Afternoon Nap: Individual Preferences  Luke’s Favorite Activities and Exploration  Outdoor Play and Nature  Visiting Brother: Attention to Siblings

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A Conversation with Luke’s Dad  Benefits of an Employer-Sponsored Child Development Center Employer-Sponsored child care program  Impact of the Infant Care Program on Family Life  Communication between Families and the Center  Communication  Daily Log: A Family-Centered Record  Portfolios: Authentic Assessment  Use of Technology for Communication  Final Thoughts: Benefits of EmployerSponsored Child Care Visiting Luke’s Home with Kristine  Luke’s Home: Understanding Family Values  A Typical Family Evening Visiting with Sue, the Infant Care Coordinator  Mentor Graphics Corporation-Sponsored Child Care  Philosophy of Care: Respecting Children and Parents  Infant Care Program: Individually Appropriate Practice  Individual Routines  Individual Program  Primary Caregiver  Curriculum of Infant Program  Infant Play  Developmentally appropriate practice  Development

Assessment and Infants Infants with Special Needs  Respecting the Diversity of Infants and Their Families  Orientation For New Families: Collaborative Planning “Starting schedule”  Commitment to a Quality Program A Closer Look at Infant Care Programs Infancy  Programs and Infant Needs  Role of the Primary Caregiver Keen Observational Skills  Principles of Caregiving Caregiving Interaction  Physical Environment of an Infant Care Program  Healthy Environment  Safe environment  Goals for Infant Care Programs  Curriculum for Infants  Curriculum and Different Developmental Areas  Developmental milestones  Social Interactions  Self-awareness  Physical Development  Purposeful movements  Emotional Development  Caregiving as Curriculum Caregiving interactions  Play as Curriculum Outdoor play  Quiet Time as Curriculum Quiet Time  Infant Care Programs and Staff  Infant Care Program Director or Coordinator 

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Infant Caregiver  Infant Caregiver Assistant  Professional Development Current Issues and Trends in Infant Care Programs  Changing Roles: Families as Partners  Curriculum Issues and Infant Care Programs  Should Companies Sponsor or Support Infant Care Programs?  Social Issues and Policies in Infant Care 

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVnZF -75RSI

10 PRINCIPLES OF INFANT CARE GIVING 1. Involve infants and toddlers in things that concern them. 2. Invest in quality time. 3. Learn each child’s unique ways of communicating and teach him or her yours. 4. Invest in time and energy to build a total person. 5. Respect infants and toddlers as worthy people.

6. Be honest about your feelings. 7. Model the behavior you want to teach. 8. Recognize problems as learning opportunities and let infants and toddlers try to solve their own. 9. Build security by teaching trust. 10. Be concerned about the quality of development in each stage.

WHAT DOES CAREGIVING AND PLAY AS CURRICULUM FOR INFANTS LOOK LIKE? Caregiving interactions such as talking to the infant while feeding or changing the infant will help the infant develop social, language, and self-help skills.  When providing care for an infant your attention must be completely focused on the infant. 

WHAT DOES CAREGIVING AND PLAY AS CURRICULUM FOR INFANTS LOOK LIKE? 

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It is important to give the infant plenty of floor time. When infants play on the floor they learn how to roll over, move their necks and heads, reach for things and scoot around on the floor. When infants are given the chance to play on the floor they “learn about themselves, other people and the world around them” while in a safe and relaxed environment.

DEFINE THE ROLE OF PRIMARY CAREGIVER IN AN INFANT CARE SETTING

The caregiver must have a solid understanding of infant development and be able to translate this knowledge into appropriate care giving and play exercises

CARE GIVING 

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The primary caregiver must be able to adjust to meet the needs of each child It is the caregiver’s responsibility to learn the individual schedules of the children Care giving interactions are opportunities to enhance proper development of infants

PLAY 

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Infants do not need highly simulating toys Learn through interacting with objects in their environment

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Need a close relationship with caregivers

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They do well with a responsive caregiver  

They thrive while interacting with a responsive caregiver Need someone who will create a stimulating environment

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programs expect primary caregivers to have an associate degree  Coursework in child development or early childhood education  Experience working with infants

WHAT IS THE MOTIVE BEHIND SPECIALIZING INDIVIDUAL CURRICULUM IN INFANT CARE  Curriculum differs for each PROGRAMS? 

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infant. Curriculum can allow for parents to see the special interaction that is formed between the infants and the caregivers. Its important for the parents to feel comfortable leaving their child in the hands of another person. Organization helps keep the connection between the caregiver and the infant safe and manageable. It is vital for the caregiver to keep a daily log of the infants behavior. It is important for infants to be in a healthy, safe and caring environment in order to properly develop and hit the appropriate milestones. Caregiving interactions help enhance the healthy development.

WHAT IS THE MOTIVE BEHIND SPECIALIZING INDIVIDUAL CURRICULUM IN INFANT CARE PROGRAMS?  Play time is needed in an infant care program and they learn best when they feel safe. It is also important for them to interact with the objects surrounding them.  Outdoor play is also a key component within infant curriculum. This is an ideal time for infants to observe what nature provides.  Quite time is a necessity for infants to receive throughout the day, whether this be observing the action going on around them or thinking in their crib after they just woke

WHY SHOULD A CAREGIVER WORK TOWARD ESTABLISHING A CLOSE CONNECTION WITH AN INFANTS FAMILY? 

Caregivers can be an inspiration to parents. How to communicate with infants.  How to understand infants.  Mission field (Ephesians 5:15) 

Families and Caregivers are more likely to understand each other’s perspectives and behaviors.  Caregivers will learn more about both the expectations and the culture of the family.  Ultimately, it is a better environment for the infant. 

HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH PARENTS… Conferences  E-mail  Voice mail  Phone calls  Portfolios (developed by caregiver)  Drop-in visits  Daily Log 