Infant and Toddler Experiences

This caregiving manual is filled with love and kindness toward little ones. The emphasis on teacher awareness and implementation of opportunities to enhance intimacy is beautifully emphasized by the authors. Their caring ways and attitudes shine through the words.

This guide for caregivers of infants and toddlers describes planned curricula for infants and toddlers as 'experiences' rather than 'activities,' in order to emphasize the importance of focusing on the way children relate to the materials, the caregivers, and one another. These experiences are founded on a free-form process of learning through repeated interactions and explorations.

Emerging from the authors' teaching at the Palo Alto Infant-Toddler Center is a repertoire of ways to respond to infants and toddlers: curricular experiences wherein the focus is on the way children relate to the materials, the caregivers, and each other in 'lasting encounters that build trust.'

Not activities, experiences—planned experiences! Yes! What I particularly like about this book is that it contains detailed material about caregiving in infant-toddler programs based on a sound philosophical foundation. Itís not just cute ideas of things to do, but goes way beyond an 'activity book.' The organization works well and continually promotes three valuable goals for infants and toddlers: curiosity, connections, and coordination. Clever labels for important pieces of advice also impressed me—like 'slow the pace: be an island,' 'say what you see, say what you know, and say who you are.' These are easy to remember and will serve the reader well. The book is chock full of good information, has loads of concrete examples, and is very readable!