ECE 250 - Connecting with Infants and Toddlers

3.0 Credits
Investigates and strengthens teacher/caregiver strategies using a relationship-based approach to support the growth of infants and toddlers. Focus is on strategies to foster trust and independence through respectful, responsive, and reciprocal teacher-child interactions.

Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Document and relate the role of secure attachment in infant’s and toddler’s development and growing independence. [COMMUNICATE]
Document and name the RIE (Resources for Infant Education) and Reggio Emilia approaches and principles of infant and toddler care-giving. [COMMUNICATE]
Demonstrate application of close observation and analysis as a tool for understanding and responding to infants and toddlers, to assure that what the infant/toddler cares about forms the basis for teacher/caregiver decision-making. [ACT]
Relate the importance of teaching strategies that focus on relationships of respect, responsiveness and reciprocity with families and their children in planning for infants’ and toddlers’ growth and learning. [REASON]
Document a personally defined interpretation of the teacher’s role in providing developmentally appropriate interactions and authentic relationships, relating to supporting trust and autonomy in infants and toddlers. [EXPLORE]
Identify and personally define the roles of culture, family practices and areas of diversity in the growth and developmental process of infants and toddlers. [EXPLORE]
Demonstrate teaching strategies for supporting cultural diversity and anti-bias practices in professionally defined and developmentally appropriate ways to infant toddler programs. [ACT]