Caregiving as a Curriculum

• Feeding: Quality time with choices and independence.
• Diapering: Involve child with communication and feedback.
• Toilet Learning: Communication with parents is key.
• Behavior and Guidance: Encouraging and modeling social behavior.
• One-on-one: Time with each child to play and interact.
• Safety:  Hand washing -- self-help skills even for young toddlers.
• Nutrition: Snack time is a social event.
• Dressing: Using teamwork and providing opportunities for a child to do it him/herself.
• Napping: Consistency with home and your environment.
• Safety: Meet licensing and accreditation requirements.
• Special needs: Make adaptations when needed.
• Sensory and Exploration: Provide open-ended materials and space so children can explore their environment.

The following list gives examples of things that are NOT Infant and Toddler Curriculum. Could you add to this list? Do you agree or disagree with these statements? Keep in mind that working with Infants and Toddlers is a very demanding job, with little down time. Placing a child in a swing to fall asleep once in a while is not cause for alarm; however, making a habit of it would be considered inappropriate.

What Is Not Infant and Toddler Curriculum?

1. Putting children on your schedule.
2. Differing your caregiving from parent’s style.
3. Bottle feeding in a crib or propping a bottle.
4. Continually using baby swings to get a child to sleep or keep a child content.
5. Leaving infants in bouncy chairs for feeding and sleeping.
6. Flashcards, television or videos.
7. A bare classroom where toys and books are put away, out of children’s reach.
8. Color sheets and teacher-directed art projects.