This book presents an expanded view of infant and toddler development to equip educators with the knowledge, dispositions, and skills to create high-quality settings and interactions so that every child can have the best start in life. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspective of the child. What does this classroom, this teacher, and this experience look like and feel like to each child? How do teachers develop deeper understanding of development and learning in the context of children's families, cultures, and lives and apply this knowledge to teaching decisions? Each chapter offers resources, research, teaching tips, activities to empower children, and questions for reflection and discussion. This book addresses the need for cultural safety and coherence between families and programs; the need for rich language and learning opportunities throughout the day; strategies for observing children and using this information to design curriculum; individualized interactions to facilitate play-based learning; and teaching strategies that strengthen each child's emerging skills and capabilities. Book Features: Shows how cultural beliefs, child-rearing practices, and language are active prime-movers in infant and toddler teaching decisions and must be made visible through reflective practice. Illustrates insightful and caring strategies for building authentic relationships with families to guide planning and decision-making. Applies NAEYC's developmentally appropriate practice position statement (2020) to the complex challenges encountered by teachers working with infants and toddlers and their families. Reimagines teaching through the lens of collaboration and creative thinking, anchoring these as essential foundations of active play, outdoor and nature play, and health and well-being.
