EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION What Does a Young Child Need? What is the Caregiver’s Role? Lessons That Last Caregiver Hints Developmental RED FLAG ALERTS Early Childhood Programs Early Childhood Resources Car Seat Information EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

What Does a Young Child Need? EVERYTHING… Assistance to meet Physical Needs: Food Clothing Cleanliness Shelter Safety / protection Play Emotional Needs: Security Care Nurturance Love Hope Social Needs: Interact with caregiver and others, including children the same age Opportunity to play with others

What Does a Young Child Need? continued Psychological Needs: Know he/she is important to the caregiver Learn who he/she is Develop a positive self esteem Cognitive Needs: Read to the child Build language skills. Talk with the child, even when they are too young to know all you are saying. Play with the child

What is the Role of the Caregiver? The caregiver is the significant person who meets the child’s needs on an ongoing basis. Provides love, care, and nurturance for the child. Makes sure the child is safe and healthy. Engages the child in play, conversation, singing, and activities that expand learning.

Lessons that Last a Lifetime Young children learn from infancy about the world. Many of the lessons are taught by the caregiver. Some of these lessons relate to...

TRUST The Infant Knows His/Her Needs will be Met It is vital to babies under one year to develop a sense of trust; knowing the caregiver will meet their needs. Trust is born from having the baby’s needs met by a consistent caregiver.

INDEPENDENCE The Young Child Explores and Learns What He/She Can Do The caregiver provides a safe environment with supervision and encouragement for the child to explore. Exercise their will and learn self-control. Desires to test independence. Walking is step toward independence...

INITIATIVE Young Child Takes Action When He/She Feels Capable and Confident to Do New Things Preschoolers begin to imagine Learn skills through play Increase in ability to follow directions Gain new skills Feel capable to learn

Caregiver Hints HAVE FUN... Things to do together: Talk (even to a baby) Read books daily Play with blocks, balls, trikes, puppets, and more Draw (big crayons) Teach a song HAVE FUN...

Developmental RED FLAG ALERTS Refers to behavioral indicators that show that a child is not developing at a normal range. These behaviors are areas of concern when they are seen consistently over a period of time. Some children are “early bloomers” and others may be delayed in some areas but still within the normal range of development.

Developmental RED FLAG ALERTS Infants under 6 months: Failure to gain weight Unable to make eye contact or follow objects Failure to hold head up Failure to hold on with hands No response to loud sounds Failure to show anticipatory behavior at feeding Lack of interest in social stimuli Does not grasp or reach for objects Tight muscles or muscles appear stiff

Developmental RED FLAG ALERTS Infants 9 to 12 months - Does not gain weight Lack of affect Not able to say single words, such as “mama” Does not look at caregiver for social cues or comfort Does not crawl Cannot stand when supported Does not use gestures, such as waving or shaking head Drags one side of body while crawling (for over one month) Does not search for object that are hidden while s/he watches

Developmental RED FLAG ALERTS Toddler 18 to 24 months- No speech Excessive body rocking Sleep disturbance Out of the ordinary play Withholding and other bowel problems Retarded development or persistent regression

Developmental RED FLAG ALERTS Three-Year-Olds - Frequent falling and difficulty with stairs Persistent drooling or very unclear speech Inability to build a tower of more than four blocks Difficulty manipulating small objects Inability to communicate in three word sentences No involvement in “pretend” play Little interest in other children

Developmental RED FLAG ALERTS Four-Year-Olds - Cannot throw a ball overhand Cannot jump in place Cannot grasp a crayon between thumb and finger Has difficulty scribbling Shows no interest in interactive games Ignores other children Resists dressing, sleeping, using the toilet Does not use sentences of more than three words Cannot copy a circle Lashes out with no self control whenever angry or upset

Developmental RED FLAG ALERTS Five-Year-Olds - Extremely fearful or timid Extremely aggressive Easily distracted and unable to concentrate on a single activity for more than five minutes Shows little interest in playing with other children Severely unhappy or sad much of the time Seems unusually passive Cannot talk about daily activities Has trouble taking off clothing Cannot wash and dry his/her hands

What to Do When Red Flag Alerts are Noted? Have the young child evaluated by the child’s pediatrician. Obtain input from the childcare center professional. Request a developmental assessment.

Early Childhood Education Programs Components of Quality Childcare Programs Care center is licensed Care provider is caring and focused on the needs of every child Number and ages of children allow for good childcare practice Area is clean and SAFE Foods are nutritious Equipment is appropriate to care for the child’s age Toys and activities are appropriate for the child’s development A routine is established for rest and play

Early Childhood Programs HEAD START Federally funded to serve children 3.9 years Some communities have programs beginning for young children as early as 18-24 months. Services available at NO COST 3.5 hour daily programs - Monday through Friday Lunch and snacks provided

Features of HEAD START Programs: Assessment screening for special needs Speech therapy Developmental milestones, etc. Emphasis on school readiness Literacy Development Field trips Provide family support services In home visits Parenting classes Individual Education Plan developed for each child Assistance transition to a new school

Early Childhood Resources Developmental Milestones Guide http://eww.lakids.gov/dcfs/DrugTesting/milestones/ML STONES%20BLUE.htm Early Head Start -National Resource Center http://www.ehsnrc.org/AboutUs/Index.htm Head Start Programs http://www.lacoe.edu/lacoeweb/orgs/201/index.cfm Los Angeles County Site Locator: http://nas.lacoe.edu/head_start2/ Department of Children and Family Services Public Website http://dcfs.co.la.ca.us/Internet_Site/OpenPage.asp

ALL YOUNG CHILDREN MUST BE BUCKLED IN A CAR SEAT for EVERY RIDE Birth - 1 year, under 22 pounds must be in rear-facing child safety seat, 5-point belt harness is best 1 to 6 years of age, under 60 pounds, forward-facing child safety seat, 5-point belt harness is best