DOUBLE TAP TO ZOOM WITH PHONE OR TABLET introduc tion : te aching through qua lit y c a re The Redleaf Family Child Care Curriculum is designed to be as reader friendly as possible. The material is organized to use as a reference so that you can find what you need when you need it. Units 1 through 5 provide an overview of typical child devel- opment by developmental domain: Unit 1: physical and motor development Unit 2: cognitive development Unit 3: communication and language development Unit 4: social and emotional development Unit 5: approaches to learning Each domain is divided into age groups to facilitate planning for the learning that occurs for children in your care. A chart of developmental indicators shows the typi- cal age range when each developmental benchmark is met. The curriculum’s activities are built from these indicators. For example, there are activities designed to promote hand-eye coordination, a physical development indicator. Unit 6 is an overview of how to set up your program and evaluate your practices. It provides tips on creating learning environments and safety concerns to be aware of. Creating a nurturing and safe environment is an important part of preparing your child care environment. Setting up materials ahead of time allows you to be organized and free to participate when you and the children start an activity. Unit 6 also describes the importance of partnering with the families of children in your care. Parents and guardians are each child’s first teachers, and as such, they deserve your respect. Communicating your philosophy and approach and building a relationship with each child’s family is key to a successful experience. Families who are confident of your abilities will send children who are more willing and eager to participate and learn. This unit offers suggestions to help make the transition between the child’s home and yours as smooth and seamless as possible. Part 2, the activities, is the heart of this book. It opens with a description of how to identify learning objectives and choose activities that will support and challenge each child. The activities that follow are divided by learning domain and then by con- tent. There are five content areas within the domain: Use Senses Explore Movement Interact with People Interact with Toys and Objects Develop Verbal Skills COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL     3