Competency 1 – Details

Competency Standard 1: To establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment

Developmental Contexts

Safe:

Young and mobile infants (birth-17 months) need affectionate and competent physical care geared to their individual needs and rhythms. Adults can help infants regulate their eating, sleeping and other activities gradually, while continuing to balance the infant’s and the group’s needs.

Toddlers (18-36 months) imitate and learn from the activities of those around them. Good health habits can be established through modeling and encouraging handwashing, nutritious eating, etc. Toddlers are increasingly curious about their world. They stretch boundaries and test everything in their surroundings. Adults must be attentive to their activities and ensure their safety while giving them simple explanations for safety precautions.

Preschoolers (3-5 years old) are gradually able to understand the relative danger or safety of situations. In a safe environment, children will gradually learn to protect themselves and look out for others.

Healthy:

Young and mobile infants (birth-17 months) need affectionate and competent physical care geared to their individual needs and rhythms. Adults individualize infants’ eating, sleeping and other daily routines, while continuing to balance the infant’s and the group’s needs.

Toddlers (18-36 months) imitate and learn from those around them. Good health habits can be established through modeling and encouraging handwashing, nutritious eating, etc.

Preschoolers (3-5 years old) are ready to learn the reasons and take responsibility for good health practices including hygiene, hand washing and good nutrition. They are fascinated by their own bodily functions and can gradually learn about them.

Learning Environment:

Young infants (birth-8 months) are learning from their immediate surroundings and daily experiences with a few important people. The sense of well-being and emotional security conveyed by a loving and skilled caregiver creates a readiness for other experiences. Before infants can creep and crawl, adults should provide a variety of sensory experiences and encourage movement and playfulness.

Mobile infants (9-17 months) are active, independent and curious. They are increasingly persistent and purposeful in doing things. They need many opportunities to practice new skills and explore the environment within safe boundaries. Adults can share children’s delight in themselves, their skills and discoveries and gradually add variety to the learning environment that will continue to foster relationships and exploration.

Toddlers (18-36 months) are developing new language skills, physical control and awareness of themselves and others each day. They enjoy participating in planned and group activities, but they are not yet ready to sit still or work in a group for a very long time. Adults can support their learning in all areas by maintaining an environment that ,s dependable but flexible enough to provide opportunities for them to extend their skills, understanding and judgment in inGividualized ways.

Preschoolers (3-5 years old) are developing new language skills, physical control, and awareness of themselves and others each day. They enjoy participation in planned and group activities, but they are not yet ready to sit still or work in a group for very long. They learn by doing. Adults can support their learning in all areas by maintaining an environment that is dependable but flexible enough to provide opportunities for them to extend their skills, understanding and judgment in individualized ways. Adults can observe children’s play, give them time and space to repeat familiar activities and expand the learning environment in response to their developing skills, interests and concerns about themselves and their world .