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Chapter 7 Infants and Toddlers: Critical Years of Life

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Infants and Toddlers High quality care of infants and toddlers has become increasingly important, along with the increase in dual income families (i.e., families where both mothers and fathers work). The periods of infancy and toddlerhood are critical for learning, and we now understand that children at these ages are quite capable. This chapter focuses on the characteristics of infants and toddlers and the type of environments that support their learning and development. Upon completion of this chapter, you will be able to discuss the importance of developmentally appropriate practices and learning environments for the infant and toddler.

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Infancy and Toddlerhood

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Infant and Toddler Development Language and mobility leads to toddler independence and desire for autonomy. Teachers and caregivers must respond to infant and toddler developmental changes in ways that support their growth and development. Normal growth and development have been established, based on the mythical average child. Children will grow and develop at different rates. Teachers and caregivers should take into consideration childrens culture and family background when determining what is normal for the individual child.

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Nature and Nurture Discussions of whether nature (genetics) or nuture (environment) have more influence on development have shifted so that these two influences are no longer pitted against each other. Current thinking is that both are necessary to understand children's development and that the interaction between nature and nurture contributes to the individuality of children. Nature Nurture versus plus Childs Development

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Brain Development Decisions about early childhood programs and the organization of environments to promote child development rely on information gleaned from brain research. Brain research points to: the importance of early experiences; benefits of early intervention. Brain research provides information about stimulation, and development of specific areas of the brain.

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More on the Brain The childs brain is anatomically like the adults brain, except that the adults brain weighs 3 pounds while the childs brain is as follows: At birth 14 ounces Six months 1.31 pounds Three years 2.4 pounds Ten years 3 pounds

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More on the Brain Neurons are nerve cells which form synapses or connections through a process called synaptogenesis. Synaptogenesis continues until age 10. Brain connections are made when caretakers interact or play with, and respond and talk to young children. Connections that are used repeatedly become permanent. Neural shearing takes place when brain connections wither away due to lack of use.

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Influences on Development and Learning High quality experiences High quality experiences contribute to neural connections. Critical periods Experiences must occur at the right times Sensitive periods Some things are learned easier during certain periods.

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Psychosocial Development Infants and toddlers fall within the trust vs. mistrust stage of Ericksons theory of psychosocial development. Children from birth to age two develop trust in others and themselves Raised in environments of love, warmth, and support Environment with limited conflict between infant and parent or caregiver Caregivers are trustworthy and are sensitive to the childs needs.

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Social Behaviors Infants use social behaviors to begin and maintain relationships. Infants interact socially with others by Crying Imitating and mimicking observed behaviors

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Bonding and Attachments BondingAttachment takes place between infant and parent begins at birth serves as the basis for mutual attachment enduring emotional tie between infant and parent children engage attachment behaviors (e.g., crying, sucking, babbling, etc.) to get and maintain proximity adults also engage in attachment behaviors (e.g., kissing, touching, embracing, etc.) to establish attachments Social and emotional relationships are influenced by bonding and attachments

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Attachments Young children are capable of developing multiple attachments at the same timealthough they may show a preference for the primary caregivers. High quality childcare programs seek out ways to ensure that mothers maintain primary attachments with their infants. The quality of parent-child attachments can me measured by the Strange Situation. This observational tool assesses whether or not an infant is securely attached to a caregiver.

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Temperament and Personality A childs temperament is represented by his/her collective behavioral characteristics. A childs temperament helps to determine their personality. See Figure 7.3 for details about each type. Three Types of Children

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Principles of Motor Development Gross (large) behaviors Foot (caudal) Foot (caudal) Proximal (center of body) Proximal (center of body) Distal (extremities) Distal (extremities) Head (cephalo) Head (cephalo) Cephalocaudal Development Cephalocaudal Development Proximodistal Development Proximodistal Development Motor development is sequential. Growth precedes from: Fine (small) behaviors Fine (small) behaviors

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Cognitive Development Infants are toddler fit within Piagets sensorimotor stage, which is the first stage of cognitive development. Highlights of this stage include: initial learning through reflexive motor action; development of object permanence where the infant understands that objects they cannot see still exist; toddlers experimentation with objects to solve problems; thinking using mental images and memory; symbolic play where an unrelated object is used to represent another object (e.g., a stick is used to represent an airplane).

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Language Development Theories of Language Development Language acquisition is innate. All children learn language regardless of culture. Speech production develops according to innate biological schedules. The content of language is acquired in the environment through modeling. Social interactions are necessary for language development.. Maturationist Theory Environmental Theory

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Language Development First words Holophrastic speech (single word sentences) Symbolic representation (a word can stand for a mental image) Vocabulary development ( 50 words by age 2) Telegraphic speech (two word sentences) See pgs. 186-87 for ways to promote language development in infants and toddlers.

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Language Development Additional important points about language development... Motherese the way mothers and caregivers adapt their speech when talking to young children. Language patterns children develop and master most language pattern by the end of preschool. The early years represent the sensitive period for learning language. Baby signing infants as young as five months can learn signals that stand for something else. A growing movement suggests children should be taught to communicate using signs before they are able to talk.

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Developmentally Appropriate Programs Dimensions of Developmentally Appropriate Programs Developmentally appropriate programs consider: what is known about child development and learning; what is known about the strengths, interest, and needs of the individual child so that the program can adapt and be responsive to those interests and needs; the social and cultural context in which the child lives so that learning experiences can be meaningful, relevant, and respectful to children and their families.

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Developmentally Appropriate Programs Infant Toddler Infants and toddlers are different and will require different programming and activities Care must also be taken when matching teachers and child care providers with children of different ages. Certain teachers/child care providers will be more emotionally and professionally suited for certain ages of children.

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Environments to Support Infant and Toddler Development

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Teachers and childcare providers can organize environments that provide for: Heath and safety Support development of basic trust and autonomy Space and materials that encourage active involvement

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Infant and Toddler Curriculum The curriculum should provide for the childs physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and linguistic development. The curriculum should be based on responsive relationships which means that it will respond to the needs and interests of the infant or toddler. The curriculum should include a daily routine encourage language development promote social development and interactions include engaging and challenging activities

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Infant and Toddler Mental Health Infant mental health refers to the overall health and well-being of young children in their family, community, and school relationships. Threats to children such as abuse, neglect, poverty, malnutrition, and the lack of loving relationships result in poor mental health. Poor mental health leads to negative outcomes such as: impaired mental functioning poor school achievement poor physical health substance abuse delinquency loss of human potential

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Infant and Toddler Mental Health Relations are important to mental health. Listed below are relational guidelines. individualize attention to the needs of both infants/toddlers and their parents. emphasis on the strengths of infants and toddlers. provide continuous and stable caregiving. be accessible to infants/toddlers and their parents. be culturally responsive by recognizing the values, beliefs, and practices of diverse cultures

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Diverse Learners All families should be welcomed. Children today come from diverse family backgrounds. Collaborate with diverse families Families differ in terms of race, socioeconomic status, religion, and culture. All families should feel valued. Culture influences beliefs about child rearing practices and family responsibilities. See pg. 199 for tips on working with diverse families.

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Whats next Infant/toddler age range Nature vs. nurture Brain research and development Brain size-infant/toddler Neurons and synapses synaptogenesis neural shearing Critical periods Sensitive periods Experiences that support development of trust Social behavior Bonding and attachment Strange Situation Types of child temperaments Sequential motor development and growth Cognitive development Theories of language development Stages of language development Motherese Development of language patterns Using sign language Dimensions of developmentally appropriated programs Environments supportive of development Infant/toddler curriculum Infant/toddler mental health Threats to mental health/outcomes Relational guidelines to support mental health Working with diversity