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CD 30
CHAPTER 3
Caregiving as Curriculum
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Everyday routines embedded into curriculum
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Caregiving activities promote learning and development.
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The interactions are respectful, responsive, and reciprocal
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Attachment: important to know children well and to understand their unique ways of communicating and
how to meet their needs.
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Supporting caregiving is curriculum.
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Three policies need to be in place to make a caregiving curriculum:
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A primary-caregiver system: assigning a consistent caregiver to a small number of infants or young
toddlers
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Consistency: minimal and well planned change teaches infants and toddlers that they can predict what
will happen.
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Continuity of care: keep the group together with the same adults. adapt the environment or move
together into a new room.
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Assessment to determine what a child needs at any given time for planning.
Caregiving routines include self-help developmental skills (feeding, diapering, washing, dressing, napping)
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Feeding time should be quality time. Breastfeeding or bottle fed. Eating as an emotional process.
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Promoting Self-Help Skills at Meals
1. Use child-size utensils
2. Provide finger food
3. Give only small amounts of food.
4. Allow children to explore and experiment with the food.
BE AWARE: Not all cultures view early independence in the same way.
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When to start solid foods:
a) standard recommendation is to start solids no sooner than four to six months.
b) Traditional foods are rice or barley cereals made especially for babies and mixed with formula or breast
milk.
c) Foods should be introduced one at a time.
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d) Foods to avoid up through the toddler years are: hotdog rounds, marshmallows, popcorn, whole
grapes, and anything else that might lodge in the throat.
Diapering; engage with baby and get him to cooperate. Acknowledge his feelings and verbalize them for
him.
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Sanitation routines for diapering:
1. spray diapering area with a bleach solution and put clean paper down.
2. dispose used diaper in a covered container.
3. using gloves, wipe the child with a clean, moist cloth or baby wipe.
4. Put a clean diaper and clean clothes on the child.
5. Wash child’s hands under running water.
6. Clean and sanitize the diapering area, spray with bleach solution.
7. Wash your hands thoroughly.
Toilet Learning: provide potties (if licensing allows) or very low toilets to promote independence.
If appropriate, ask parents to dress children in loose, simple clothing they can remove themselves.
Be gentle and understand about accidents.
Washing hands as part of daily routine. wash hands with soap and water for 15 seconds.
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Children with medical issues, disabilities, or other physical challenges must be accommodated during
caregiving routines. Always ask parents about any special accommodations.
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Caregivers must respect what families want for their children and honor diversity.
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Dressing : daily grooming considering cultural views from family.
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Napping: depending on age and program guidelines.