Stony Mountain Child Care Centre Co-op Inc.
Infant Curriculum Statement
Stony Mountain Child Care Center (SMCCC) provides care for infants in partnership with parents to ensure that the transition from home to child care is as smooth as possible. We strive to satisfy each infant’s need for a close physical and emotional attachment. We do this by holding, cuddling, interacting with them on the floor and being in close proximity to them at all times. As we create this bond, we hope to be an extension of the family unit, working cooperatively to support both family and child. Parents are greeted each day and relevant information is exchanged. We have a yearly Walk a Thon with a family BBQ afterward. We invite you to provide a picture of the child with their family to put on display at the children’s level. A daily record chart goes home which will let the parent know what the child has eaten, how long they have slept and when they were changed. Comments will be added about the children’s play experiences about play. This is used to further expand and strengthen communication between families and the care givers in the infant program.
SMCCC promotes a developmentally appropriate approach to social, emotional, physical and cognitive growth of each child. Caregivers encourage independence and experimentation through self chosen free play. Cushions are provided for climbing, blocks, daily living materials, books and musical instruments are available to the children. These experiences stimulate the development of the child. Then environment is designed to be warm, safe, inviting and a challenging space for the various stages of infants and through observation we continue to modify the space as they grow to meet their individual needs, abilities and interests. Staff post photos of children’s activities and document various play experiences, such as sensory, art and movement activities and are posted by the front entrance.
Our caregivers are educated and knowledgeable about child development and are able to read and respond to the infant’s needs and behaviours. The Infant Room has a scheduled routine to help children learn to understand the day and what comes next; however, this schedule is adapted to meet the needs of each child and is flexible. If your child requires more then one nap or a longer nap, we can accommodate that. On days that the weather is nice, we will extend our outdoor play or on days that we are unable to go outside movement activities will be indoors. Caregivers optimise learning opportunities in play experiences as well as daily activities and develop social skills among children by encouraging sharing and labeling what other children are doing and feeling.
Space and materials for caregiving routines such as diapering, dressing, hand washing, meal times etc are set up and used to promote learning. These routines encourage language and social development. The diaper change table is situated so that staff can see the room while spending 1 – 1 time with the children and involving them in the diapering routine. The individual time supports children’s positive emotional development.
At mealtimes caregivers are situated with the infants and environment. The infants will sit together in high chairs with the caregiver. We use the teachable moments to allow infants to explore their food, feed themselves and respond to fullness and hunger cues. This teaches them independence skills and promotes self confidence.
Language development is particularly crucial during the infant period. We provide many opportunities for infants to engage in meaningful dialogue. The infant caregivers will talk to the children during free play labeling the toys and talking about what they see the children doing. During daily routines staff will talk to the children and explain to them what will happen. “We are going wash your hands for snack.” Labeling feeling and also lots of discussion about what’s going on in the environment around them.
Every infant will learn about their environment at their own pace by touching, tasting, vocalizing and through their own play. Caregivers help to facilitate play by giving infants opportunities for play that is planned and spontaneous. Staff help children build relationships with each other by assisting in turn taking, roleplaying and encouraging conversations with each other about what’s going on around them.
Our caregivers regularly discuss the environment, interactions, experiences as well as the interests of each individual infant and the group. The indoor as well as the outdoor environment is set up to provide open space for children so they can discover and learn using hands on materials in play with peers. Materials are arranged in open bins on low shelves. When planning, we consider all aspects of child development, the infant’s various cultures and diversity and incorporate it in their daily play by displaying posters various artwork and providing various play materials. We have dolls that are gender specific. We have puzzles and posters that have a variety of people with various abilities. The learning environment includes sensory, literacy, curiosity, movement, music and outdoor experiences. Our center will include a wide variety of books that have various ages, racial and cultural backgrounds.
Our community is an extension of our program and we often journey out of the center on walks to local parks to explore and to learn more about the world around us. In our program we value nature play. We often explore our natural playground and extend out into the nature trails near by. We often bring nature into the center as well.
The infant staff work closely with the preschool staff to help transition a confident, secure and happy child ready to embrace the next stage of Stony Mountain Child Care Center.