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CURRICULUM & LEARNING ENVIRONMENT * 2 HOURS * LEVEL 2
The Infant and Toddler Teacher’s Role

Introduction to Curriculum for Infants and Toddlers

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The educator’s role is to thoughtfully plan activities for infants and toddlers to explore in an environment in which they feel safe and secure. 
Educators should know not only what they are doing but also why they are doing it. 
To be effective in providing responsive and developmentally appropriate care and learning environments for infants and toddlers, an educator must have a good understanding of child development and high quality practice. The first responsibility that educators have is to know the children in their care. 
Observe the children and converse with their families. 
  • What do the children like to do? 
  • How do they behave when hungry, tired or in new situations? 
  • What routines are they used to? 
  • How do they prefer to fall asleep? 
  • In which positions do they prefer to be held, fed and burped? 
  • What other preferences do they have? 
  • What other information may be relevant to providing quality care?
By knowing the individual needs and preferences of children, the educator is able to be responsive. When children are comfortable and their needs are met quickly, they will view the environment as predictable and safe. Children realize that the educator will respond appropriately. This positively affects the children’s sense of security, safety and confidence.
Routines allow young children to feel comfortable and relaxed. Having a predictable routine decreases anxiety, which can be caused by fear or insecurity of what might happen next. It is important not to over schedule the children with too many transitions. Following the children’s lead will assist in determining a responsive and comfortable daily schedule.

Young children thrive on repetition. They love to look at the same books, sing the same songs and play the same games over and over again. Repeating these experiences is critical for infants and toddlers to develop language skills and a sense of security. Introduce new material slowly and balance it with familiar objects.

Care routines such as diapering and feeding should be pleasant and interactive so children develop positive ideas about their bodies and themselves. This is a great opportunity for one-on-one interaction to convey to the child that he or she is valued and cherished.