The primary caregiving system encourages responsiveness.ħ. Responsive caregiving requires careful observation, knowledge of child development and respect for each child’s temperament, interests and capabilities. She recognizes signs of stress in the child and takes appropriate action to adapt to the child’s needs. The active and responsive caregiver takes cues from each child to know when to expand on the child’s initiative, when to guide, when to teach and when to intervene. Active and Responsive Caregiving to Support Children’s Development (Click Here) Stability is important for healthy emotional development, which provides the underpinnings for all other areas of development.Ħ. Ideally, a child has the same primary caregiver until age three, which spares her the trauma of leaving someone to whom she is securely attached and having to adjust all over again to someone who does not know her. This holistic relationship provides the security and trust that enables the child to explore and flourish in group care. The child’s security deepens as her primary caregiver develops a positive relationship with her family and comes to know their values and wishes for their child. A baby develops trust as her primary caregiver learns to respond appropriately to her unique temperament, her needs and her interests by being the one who almost always diapers her, feeds her, puts her to sleep, and communicates with her family. Primary Caregiver and Continuity of Care (Click Here)Īssigning each child a primary caregiver promotes the caring one-on-one relationships that help babies thrive. NY State regulations require:Ī) 1 caregiver for every 4 infants (6 weeks to 18 months) – group size no larger than 8ī) 1 caregiver for every 5 toddlers (18 months – 36 months) – group size no larger than 12Ĭ) A family child care provider may care for no more than 2 children under age twoĭ) While these standards are among the best in the nation, the National Association for theĮducation of Young Children and Zero to Three recommend 1 adult to every 3 babies or 4 toddlers.ĥ. As they grow, they can play more independently and can handle small group activities. Infants need individualized care and one-on-one time for interactions and routines. Group size and adult child ratios determine the amount of time and attention each caregiver can devote to each child. Small Groups with Optimal Ratios (Click Here) Within the environment they need toys and activities selected primarily for individual interests and abilities rather than one-size-fits-all group play.Ĥ. Babies and toddlers need safe spaces for quiet and active play (both inside and outdoors), safe spaces for sleeping, and spaces to interact one-on one with individual caregivers. Age Appropriate Environments (Click Here)Ĭhildren under 3 learn through continuously exploring and interacting with their environment, which includes the emotional climate of a child care setting as well as the physical space.
TAKING CARE OF BABY AND ME PROGRAM HOW TO
Early care and education focuses on the unique learning abilities of babies and toddlers and trains caregivers how to plan appropriate activities, how to use daily routines to bond with babies, and how to provide cognitive stimulation through conversation, interaction and responsive relationships.ģ. The last decade’s findings about early brain development tell us that baby and toddler caregivers need to study early care and education rather than pre-school or elementary education. Staff Well Trained in Early Childhood Development (0-3) (Click Here)Īccording to research, staff education and training is one of the best ways to rate child care quality and predict long term success.
TAKING CARE OF BABY AND ME PROGRAM FULL
The full set of regulations can be found at 2. With standards among the highest in the nation, New York’s child care regulations address everything from hand washing procedures and sanitation practices for minimizing the spread of infection, to policies for administering medications and guidelines for safe sleeping. New York State ensures that basic health and safety requirements are met by licensing child care centers and registering family day care homes. Child Care Programs Following Appropriate Health and Safety Practices (Click Here) Programs often start with tangible changes to the environment and the structure of the program and then advance towards changing practices that promote relationship based care between children, caregivers and families.ġ. Using these 10 components as a guide, The NYS Infant and Toddler Resource Network is helping child care programs improve the quality of care for our babies, toddlers and their families.
National experts have identified 10 research based components that are essential to high quality child care.