The Program for Infant/Toddler Care

Format: 3 hours, 30-40 participants, lecture, video, discussion, small group work, role play.

This session focuses on two of the PITC’s six recommended program policies for infant/toddler care—small groups and individualized care. Presenter models how to use active learning activities to help training participants (1) reflect on the experience of having their own individual needs respected or not, (2) explore the chaos of large group infant/toddler care environments, and (3) create floor plans of infant/toddler care environments. During the first half of the session, participants consider a range of different needs including children’s ages, stages of development, temperaments, families and cultural practices, and differing abilities. Discussion addresses how full consideration of individual children’s differing needs leads to care that is appropriate to each child. The second half of the session examines strategies for creating intimate environments that support children’s relationships and learning, particularly how to overcome barriers to setting up environments to accommodate small groups.

Related Module(s):
II Group Care

Related Resources:
Article	Child Care is Rich in Routines
Article	How Mothers in Four American Cultural Groups Shape Infant Learning During Mealtimes
Handout	A Roadmap to Implementation of Small Groups
Handout	Agenda - Making It Happen Individualized Care and Small Groups
Handout	Creating Small Groups, A Hands-On Activity
Handout	Division and Definition of Space (Betty Blaize only version)
Handout	Key Concepts - Small Groups (Betty Blaize version)
Handout	Key Concepts- Individualized Care
Handout	Key Concepts- Individualized Care (Betty Blaize version)
Handout	Key Concepts- Small Groups
Handout	Providing Individualized Care
Handout	Sample Small Groups Road Map Activity Summary
Handout	Self Reflection (Betty Blaize version)
Handout	Small Groups Support (Betty Blaize only version)
Handout	Steps Toward Implementation of PITC Recommendations for Group Size
Handout	Taking The Infant's Perspective Trainer Instructions
Handout	Temperament Traits (Betty Blaize only version)
Handout	Three Unique Infants and Toddlers
Handout	Ways in Which Infants are Unique (Betty Blaize version)
Handout	What are Small Groups for Infants and Toddlers?
Handout	What Makes Us Who We Are?
Handout	Why Not Large Groups? (Betty Blaize only version)
Manual	Trainer's Manual Module II: Group Care
PowerPoint	Small Groups PowerPoint Presentation