Infants and toddlers grow and learn a great deal in the first few years of their lives. These years are full of rapid changes, and their development during these year is important to the way that they will adjust to schooling as children as well as later in life. For this reason, I believe that it is important to place significant focus on several areas of infant and toddler development. I believe that the emotional development is very important for children in the early years of their lives so that they for stable bonds with those around them and feel as though they have an emotional support system. In addition, the cognitive development, or the ability to reason, of infants and toddlers is important as this type of development will also have a significant impact on how they adjust to life. Another areas of development which I believe to be very important to infants and toddlers is that of motor sequences, these are the motor skills that will help them progress into childhood as physically capable human beings.
Infants and toddlers learn to do the things that they see around them. They have a natural habit of copying others such as parents and siblings. For this reason, I believe that it is important to try to ensure that all of the influences around this developing youngster are as positive as possible.
I feel that it is essential to develop good relationships with children and their families. Having a positive relationship with the children allows and as an early child care professional to have a greater impact on their development. In addition, to continue the lessons the child learns in the home, it is important to have parental cooperation. One way in which to foster a healthy relationship with infants, toddlers, and their families is to value their culture and diversity. I believe that placing a high value on this aspect will allow all children and their families to feel included and important.
In my curriculum for early childhood development, I include language skills, creative arts, basic mathematics skills, and social and emotional skills. These are the areas in which I believe infants and toddlers are capable of learning and retaining information that will carry them over into school.
Because each child is unique and develops at his or her own pace, I believe that it is important not to compare any of the children to each other as this may discourage the child from learning.
I believe that the safety of the facility in which infants and toddlers are cared for and learn is of utmost importance; therefore, I will take all steps necessary to ensure that the environment in which I provide instruction is safe and healthy for the children.
PITC program components are those that are based on a relationship-based curriculum. The components I believe are important to include are: forming a connection with the infants, toddlers, and their families; instructing these young children in small groups, and ensuring that all of these youngsters always feel that they are in safe caring environment.
I believe that it is important for infants with disabilities to be included along with the other infants. These infants may need special care and attention which I am willing to provide.
- “Baby & Toddler.” PBS Parents. Retrieved from: www.pbs.org/parents/child-development/baby-and-toddler/
- “Infant / Toddler Learning & Development Program Guidelines.” Retrieved from: cde.ca.gv/sp/cd/re/documents/itguidelines.pdf
