Course Description
In this course students will build on their knowledge of infant’s and toddler’s relationships and engagements with their environment and caregivers. The students will further develop their abilities in working in collaboration with families as they design safe and individualized plans for infants and toddlers.
Course Content
The following global ideas guide the design and delivery of this course:
- Quality practice in infant and toddler group care grows out of an understanding of current research and accepted theories of child development.
- Each infant or toddler in care deserves individualized care and learning opportunities. This can only happen through on-going observation and documentation of each child’s development.
- To build reciprocal relationships with parents, caregivers must respect the interests and needs of the family.
- Quality infant/toddler care requires mature, loving and reflective practitioners. The younger and more vulnerable the child, the more time, attention and love the caregiver must provide.
- A major priority for infant and toddler care programs is the inclusion of all children.
- In quality programs, children learn through routines and play.
- Caregivers orchestrate play in aesthetic, warm and responsive environments.
- Quality practices in the care of infants and toddlers focuses on the promotion of healthy development of the whole child.
Learning Activities
- Lecture
- Presentations
- Practice in simulated environment
- Observations
- Narrations
Means of Assessment
The course evaluation is consistent with Douglas College evaluation policy. An evaluation schedule is presented at the beginning of the course. This is a graded course.
Test(s)
Project(s)
Reports
Observation Assignment
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Introduce the concept of infant and toddler care & education.
- Learn national and international perspectives of the rights of infants and toddlers.
- Understand the principles and issues involved in creating relationship-based environments.
- Develop the concept of caregiving as curriculum and explore how it can be applied in planning, policies, and routines in group child care settings.
- Understand the value of free play and exploration for infants and toddlers, the roles of caregivers, and the environmental factors that influence play.
- Understand and apply current licensing standards when caring for infants and toddlers in group settings.
- Develop an understanding of health, safety and nutrition principles and practices required to meet the individual needs of children.
- Design safe, yet challenging enough learning experiences that foster development in each child.
- Understand the value of observing infants and toddlers in relation to developmental screening as well as ongoing assessment.
- Develop observational skills and become aware of the young child’s pre-verbal observational behavioural communication in order to effectively meet his or her needs.
- Develop the concept of a family centred approach in infant/toddler programs.
- Understand complex parental emotions when utilizing child care services and the needs of supporting the entire family.
- Understand the importance of the gradual entry process and the initial meeting with families.
- Develop the necessary skills for working effectively with families of young children.
- Understand the importance of on-going communication when working with young children, families and co-workers.
- Understand the differences in curricula between infant/toddler and 3-5 programs.
- Develop a skill set when conducting activities and circle time for infants and toddlers.
- Understand the benefits of using sign language.