|
In the first three
years of life, I believe nurturing and affection are of the utmost
importance. Under the age of one-year, I do not subscribe to the idea that an infant can be spoiled. Rather, infants
should be held often and nurtured by keeping a close bond
with caregivers.
In the following two years of life, growing feelings of
independence will develop in a progression that is natural
for each individual child. As parents and caregivers, the idea we should maintain is one
of trust in the perfection of a naturally-developing human
life.
My philosophy
translates into my daily routine in that I often keep at
least one infant in my arms while doing tasks. Otherwise, I
always make time for lots of big hugs. I believe great big
hugs are the best kind of congratulations that an infant or
toddler can be given for conquering a new obstacle. Lots of
claps and high-fives also work well as congratulations for
big achievements.
Examples of big
achievements for young children include, crawling, climbing,
standing, taking first steps, saying “bye bye,” saying
“thank-you,” clapping hands, and learning to give and share.
In fact, there are countless new things for a young child to
learn. The best way I can help in this development is
through positive reinforcement. When and if a negative
behavior becomes an issue, I believe that it is imperative
to provide no attention for the negative behavior. In other
words, I believe in providing lots of positive attention and
no negative attention.
Another essential part
of my daily routine is to provide the children in my care
with interesting and stimulating materials. My home daycare
is thus, well equipped with Age appropriate toys, books,
activities, and learning tools. I continually prep the
learning environment so that curiosity in children is
promoted and exploration is encouraged. The outside play
area is equipped with riding toys, playhouses, and much more
for little seekers to enjoy.
I have found the
motivation for my approach in the work of such experts as
Maria Montessori, David Weikart, Society of Friends, and
last but not least, my mother Judith David.
Top
|
Philosophy