Choosing A Good Early Childhood Education Program For You And
Your Toddler
Good early childhood education programs create
and offer on a day to day basis a partnership between your family
and their teacher caregivers. Finding a loving, caring place for
your exploring toddler may take sometime so be sure to start early
and give yourself an opportunity to visit several programs.
First, look for early childhood education programs
licensed with either the Department of Health or the Department
of Education in your state. Licensed programs must meet certain
criteria for the health, safety and education of young children.
Requirements vary from state to state. Call the Department of Health
or the Department of Education and they can give you a list of licensed
programs in your area.
Second, make phone calls, ask questions and schedule
a tour. To learn what is available you may want to visit center
based programs, home based programs and even interview nannies to
work in your home. Talk with other parents who already have their
child enrolled in a program you are interested in. Choosing an early
childhood education program for your toddler is a very important
and personal choice.
Third, visit several programs. Go prepared with
a written list of questions. What you want to see as you visit early
childhood education programs are small group sizes. The National
Association for the Education of Young Children recommends maximum
group size of 12 toddlers, with 1 teacher caregiver for no more
than 6 toddlers (preferably fewer i.e. State of Connecticut requires
1 teacher caregiver for every 4 toddlers and maximum group size
is 8 toddlers). This allows for a high level of supervision that
toddlers require. Your state agency requirements may have different
ratios.
In your toddler's early childhood education program
you want to see:
o Toddlers have a primary teacher caregiver so
they can develop a strong relationship together. Your toddler's
teacher caregiver comes to know your toddlers individual personality,
needs and cues and builds a strong positive communication with you.
o Caregivers who are positive and praise toddlers
for their accomplishments. Toddlers then become more in control
of themselves and positive.
o Teacher caregivers promptly respond to toddler's
cries or other signs of frustration because they realize toddlers
do not yet have the language skills to communicate their needs.
o Teacher caregivers are good role models by treating
others kindly and with respect. As language development builds teacher
caregivers encourage toddlers to use their words to resolve differences.
o Teacher caregivers smile, use pleasant voice
tones, give hugs and pats on back, and hold toddlers in lap throughout
the day.
o Physical space and activities are age appropriate
allowing children to explore experiment and be actively involved
in their learning environment.
o Teacher caregivers read to children during the
day 1 on 1 on adults lap or in groups of 2 or 3 children. Teacher
caregivers sing, do finger plays and act out stories with children.
o Sturdy picture books that show different cultural
and racial groups, various types of families and different ages.
o Toddlers encouraged to do everyday tasks such
as eating, dressing themselves, toileting, washing hands. With opportunities
and support toddlers will be learning new skills and better control
of their behavior.
o Teacher caregivers follow proper health and safety
procedures to include hand washing and universal precautions. Written
procedures are posted in designated areas in the classroom.
o Teacher caregivers directly supervise all children
by sight and sound, even at nap time.
o Teacher caregivers provide curriculum so that
toddlers have a variety of activities that include large-muscle
play indoors and outdoors. Check to see that play equipment is safe.
Equipment should be challenging for toddlers and separate from older
children. Teacher child ratios should be maintained the same outside
as they are in the classroom.
o Caring and responsive teacher caregivers with
training and or an early childhood education specific to the toddler
age.
Fourth, you want to feel that you are always welcome
in your child's early childhood education center or home and can
arrive at any time unannounced. Teacher caregivers see parents as
the primary source of love, affection and care of their child. Teacher
caregivers support parents and work to build a healthy professional
relationship taking care of the whole family unit.
Fifth, toddlers are explorers and are very inquisitive
about their world. They are always on the move looking for new and
exciting activities and sights. Sometimes this appears to be a discipline
problem however you may find that this is a toddler's challenge
to understand how he/she fits into the world.
Finally, toddlers learn best through play, investigation,
exploration, observation and going at their own pace. Between the
ages of 1 -3 years so many exciting developments occur. You want
to offer your toddler an early childhood education environment that
gives him/her a chance to take part in meaningful activities either
alone or in a small group. This gives your toddler an opportunity
to make choices and practice his/her social skills by sharing and
getting along with others. They like to pretend to do what you do,
dress up like mommy or daddy, scribble with crayons, read picture
books, stack blocks, kick balls, eat with a spoon and fork, string
beads, do puzzles and the list goes on.
A high quality early childhood education program
works with you the parents. This provides your child with the learning
activities he/she needs to become an individual who feels good about
themselves, can sustain themselves and grow up to be a productive
member of society. Good beginnings never end!
* * *
Darlene Valluzzo was an Early
Childhood Educator of 30 years being actively involved in nurturing
and educating lives of future generations.
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