In Respect: A Practitioner's Guide to Calm and Nurturing Infant Care and Education, Toni Christie talks about the importance of moving slowly and taking your time in the infant room:
"...taking adequate time deepens teachers' awareness and knowledge of each child, sensing by their behavior, body language, and expressions.... When teachers give their time, they show value for the person with whom they are engaged. When we rush an interaction, we run the risk of leaving the person with whom we are interacting feeling unsatisfied and undervalued by the experience. Each child will have his or her own rhythm and pace. Respectful practice involves stepping out of our rhythm and pace and adjusting to that of the infant. For adults that is generally going to mean slowing down a great deal in order to observe and interpret needs, invite children to engage, wait for their response, and then engage in the interaction at the child's pace."
A Practitioner's Guide to Calm & Nurturing Infant Care & Education presents timely research on respectful infant and toddler care and education seasoned with practitioner wisdom. The book explores the most important relationship for infants and toddlers in center settings - primary caregiver relationships - and illustrates how they worked easily and well when a teaching team approach was taken involving the parents.
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It's wonderful how the principle of primary caregiving, first introduced in the United States by Magda Gerber when she brought to this country a model of respectful infant care, has trickled down to many parts of the world as a standard quality measure to be upheld by anyone who comes to appreciate its merits. Those studying The Educaring® Approach in depth will understand Gerber's legacy in order to help raise authentic infants and peaceful caregiving environments. Check out the newest book from Resources for Infant Educarers, "Baby Knows Best" www.rie.org
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