PITC National Symposium PITC National Symposium 20062006

Presenter: J. Ronald Lally, WestEd

If We Asked Infants to Design Their Own Childcare

Infant As Citizen Infant As Citizen

The child would vote to be seen as a citizen The child would vote to be seen as a citizen with rights and choices in the present not with rights and choices in the present not as an instrument of societies future as an instrument of societies future economic or social success:economic or social success:

– Right to BeRight to Be

– Right to BecomeRight to Become

– Right to EnjoyRight to Enjoy

– Right to ChooseRight to Choose

Child Sees Self As CompetentChild Sees Self As Competent

Curious, motivated, self starting learnerCurious, motivated, self starting learner Imitator, interpreter, integrator, Imitator, interpreter, integrator, Explorer, inventorExplorer, inventor Communication initiatorCommunication initiator Meaning seekerMeaning seeker Relationship builderRelationship builder

Child Sees Self As VulnerableChild Sees Self As Vulnerable

Dependent on adults for:Dependent on adults for: Physical survival Physical survival Emotional securityEmotional security Safe base for learning Safe base for learning Regulating, modeling and mentoring social Regulating, modeling and mentoring social

behaviorbehavior Information and exchange about the workings Information and exchange about the workings

of the world and rules for living. of the world and rules for living.

What Child Expects What Child Expects From AdultsFrom Adults

NurturanceNurturance

SupportSupport

SecuritySecurity

PredictabilityPredictability

FocusFocus

EncouragementEncouragement

ExpansionExpansion

How They Want To Be ViewedHow They Want To Be Viewed

With a need for the love and support of trusted With a need for the love and support of trusted adultsadults

With a passion and emotion that is at the base of With a passion and emotion that is at the base of their knowledge construction.their knowledge construction.

With an inborn drive to explore, experiment, With an inborn drive to explore, experiment, invent and use things in unpredictable waysinvent and use things in unpredictable ways

As a social beingAs a social being As an individual with rights and membership in a As an individual with rights and membership in a

group that has its own identity and goalsgroup that has its own identity and goals

Preferred Setting For CarePreferred Setting For Care

Care provided in safe, interesting, Care provided in safe, interesting, and intimate settings where they have and intimate settings where they have the time and opportunity to establish the time and opportunity to establish and sustain secure and trusting and sustain secure and trusting relationships with other children and relationships with other children and

with knowledgeable caregivers who with knowledgeable caregivers who are responsive to their needs and are responsive to their needs and interests.interests.

Preferred Policies For CarePreferred Policies For Care

Primary CarePrimary Care

Small GroupsSmall Groups

Continuity of CareContinuity of Care

Personalized CarePersonalized Care

Cultural ResponsivenessCultural Responsiveness

Attention to Their Special NeedsAttention to Their Special Needs

How They Would Prepare Their How They Would Prepare Their Teachers Teachers

For thoughtfulnessFor thoughtfulness As researcher rather than practitionerAs researcher rather than practitioner Schooled in the creative use of time,space Schooled in the creative use of time,space

& materials& materials Trained to document, reflect, plan and Trained to document, reflect, plan and

adaptadapt Prepared to engage in daily exchanges Prepared to engage in daily exchanges

with children, teachers, supervisors, with children, teachers, supervisors, families and others.families and others.

Daily Experiences Daily Experiences They Would PreferThey Would Prefer

Amazement ImitationAmazement Imitation Marvel SurpriseMarvel Surprise Excitement ObservationExcitement Observation Invention HypothesizingInvention Hypothesizing Transformation CommunicationTransformation Communication Disorientation ContemplationDisorientation Contemplation Reflection ConnectionReflection Connection