Competency 4 – Details

Competency Standard IV: To establish positive and productive relationships with families

Developmental Context

Families:

Young infants (birth-8 months) are establishing patterns of sleeping, waking, eating, playing, and social activity. They can be supported in developing some stability in these routines by the sensitive and consistent responses of adults. Families and caregivers can anticipate needs and respond more appropriately to the infant’s signals when they share details with each other about the baby at drop off and pick up times.

Mobile infants (9-17 months) may have difficulty separating from the family members even when the caregiver is a familiar and trusted person. Caregivers can support infants and their families by recognizing that it may be upsetting both for the adults and the child and providing strategies to ease the separation. Caregivers should recognize the potential for competition between themselves and parents and work to avoid it, remembering that babies can have more than one important adult in their lives. Caregivers and families also need to agree on reasonable and safe limits as children begin to explore and wander.

Toddlers (18-36 months) develop their own special routines and rituals in order to feel safe and secure. It is essential that families and caregivers share their experiences and understanding of the child’s patterns and provide consistent, dependable support for the toddler’s developing sense of self competence and confidence.

Preschoolers (3-5 years old) move back and forth from their family to the child care program more independently than younger children. They are also more sensitive to the differences between the two environments and observe carefully the interactions between their parents and teachers/caregivers. Teachers/caregivers should build a “partnership” with each family to best support the needs of each child. They should keep each other informed of important developments in children’s lives and provide mutual support in nurturing each child’s physical, social, emotional and cognitive development.