1.3: What does Care and Education of Infants and Toddlers mean?

Last updated
Save as PDF

Page ID: 139017

Todd LaMarr

\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

Care and Education of Infants and Toddlers

What does care and education of infants and toddlers even mean? Perhaps it is most clear to start by describing what it is not. Care and education of infants and toddlers is not babysitting. Babysitting, or keeping an eye on a child and making sure they are safe, is hardly even the minimum of what this means. The first three years of a child’s life are a critical foundation for later development, so caregivers need to implement research-supported strategies to create secure and stimulating experiences with quality relationships in the classroom.

One year old toddler exploring sand — Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): The fun of play Image by Antoine Hawa on Unsplash

Care and education of infants and toddlers is not preschool. Although there are many different preschool pedagogical approaches, they often revolve around schedules of table top activities, circle time and indoor/outdoor play. Should this be similar for infants and toddlers? For some, infant and toddler education is just like preschool一or at least the goal is for it to be as similar to preschool as possible. The activities might differ and the allotment of time devoted to activities may be different, but many infant and toddler programs attempt to be replications of preschool curricula, using a diluted approach.

Care and education of infants and toddlers is and should be very different from preschool curriculum. The term curriculum is being used more frequently in reference to infants and toddlers, but it carries a different meaning than what is commonly considered when people think about curriculum. What do you think about when you consider the term curriculum? Do you envision a curriculum book that lays out day-by-day activities with weekly and monthly themes? This is common in many preschool settings. Curriculum for infants and toddlers is different. Curriculum for children under three years of age focuses on relationships while closely observing and reflecting upon the interactions and experiences that unfold.