Often families, especially for their first child, are worried about sending their baby to group care, having absorbed the idea of a single primary caregiver being the ideal. But Babies in Groups: Expanding Imaginations, by Ben S. Bradley, Jane Selby, and Matthew Stapleton, is a painstakingly researched book demonstrating how infants are socially engaged and engaging creatures from birth, and from six months can observably take pleasure in interacting with other babies. This article from The Conversation offers some of their findings, and would make a great addition to your enrollment packet!
For reflection:
How do the babies in your care participate in the group?
In what ways can you facilitate their participation?
Has this article changed the way you see their interactions?
Hacer amigos multigeneractionales
El concepto de “interacciones intergeneracionales no familiares” se centra en la idea sencilla de que mayores y jóvenes pueden aportar nueva energía, conocimientos y entusiasmo a la vida de los demás. Antes de la pandemia de COVID-19, manteníamos una relación con una comunidad de jubilados, en la que varios de sus residentes viajaban regularmente a nuestro centro preescolar para leer y jugar con los niños. Desde que se levantaron las restricciones, los niños del Caterpillar Clubhouse Nature Preschool viajan a la comunidad de jubilados cada dos semanas para visitar a sus grandes amigos.
Me asombró que la simple presencia de nuestros niños de preescolar marcara tanta diferencia en las vidas de estos amigos multigeneracionales. Me di cuenta de cómo los niños aceptaban completamente las diferencias físicas y mentales que les rodeaban con una gracia tan natural. Y adquirió un sentido de conexión a través de las generaciones. Con demasiada frecuencia subestimamos el poder de un abrazo, de una sonrisa y de la risa de los niños…. Creo en el respeto y la dignidad de la vida para las personas de todas las edades, jóvenes y mayores. Esta creencia fundamental es el hilo que entreteje el tejido de nuestro programa.
Lo que hacen los grupos cuando se reúnen puede ser tan relajado como jugar con plastilina, un juego de globos o leer un libro juntos.
Valorar a las personas mayores
Los adultos mayores tienen la necesidad de contribuir a la siguiente generación, y que hacerlo puede dar a las personas mayores sentimientos de logro o éxito, en lugar de estancamiento, a medida que envejecen. Las actividades intergeneracionales muestran a los mayores que se les valora como individuos que aún poseen habilidades para toda la vida, en lugar de ser receptores pasivos de cuidados. Una señora que asistía al centro me dijo que no piensas en tu edad cuando estás en compañía de niños pequeños. Los más pequeños aportaron un nuevo sentido de vitalidad y diversión al centro, y la atención ya no se centraba en ver pasar el tiempo, sino en vivir el momento.
Hoy en día, las familias tradicionales están separadas por la distancia, el tiempo y la falta de entendimiento entre generaciones, pero los programas que reúnen a niños y mayores podrían cambiar toda la perspectiva de la sociedad.
La Educación Infantil consiste en establecer relaciones. Las investigaciones demuestran que los alumnos que tienen relaciones intergeneracionales sanas tienen más confianza en sí mismos, así como un mayor sentido de la empatía y la tolerancia. Los niños también desarrollan un sentido positivo del envejecimiento y las interacciones entre generaciones reducen el miedo a los adultos mayores. Las relaciones entre los niños y los mayores también reducen el miedo a las distintas capacidades y discapacidades.
Cita del día: Gran amigo: Ni siquiera sabía que necesitaba ese abrazo hasta que lo recibí.
In the RIE philosophy, there is a great emphasis on ensuring that caregiving times are relaxed and enjoyable for children and their caregivers. While this might be a dramatic reframe for some– is it really possible to enjoy changing diapers? — it can make mundane tasks much more pleasant.
Family child care is a unique profession– some days drag out, but many others fly by. Taking any opportunity to slow down and be mindfully present with the children is a way to build relationships with each child and ensure that there is time each day spent in warm individual interactions.
The major criterion that makes an activity “want something” quality time is that the adult has an agenda for the child to participate in. This is typically participating in a care task like diapering/toileting, feeding/eating, or dressing. How can these sometimes stressful occasions become enjoyable for everyone? The answer is simple: play!
When a child is getting changed, songs and nursery rhymes (“This Little Piggy”, “Hickory, Dickory, Dock”) have natural gestures that can be incorporated into dressing the child. Taking some pressure off of meals and offering conversation or even calm games for older toddlers, like “I spy on my plate” or discussing the attributes of the meal.
It’s normal for a child to offer some resistance during care times; babies and toddlers try to roll away from diaper changes, or spit out food, or tantrum to avoid getting dressed. Approaching the child in the spirit of collaboration and fun, while not an immediate “cure” for these behaviors, will change the tone of these interactions over time.
Reflection Questions:
- What “want something” times are most difficult right now?
- Consider a child you have struggled to connect with, or who struggles when participating in care tasks: how and when could you use want something quality time to build that relationship?
Relationships with families are at the heart of an early childhood professional’s work. Building and sustaining these relationships benefits the children in your care as well as your business. Family engagement can look different for different programs– some programs plan events during the day or after hours for families to drop in, others integrate a more casual approach where families can spend time in the program as they’re available. Family engagement can also look more formal, with structured conferences or requesting volunteers for field trips. Welcoming families into your program is the first step to building strong relationships.
Town Square Research to Practice Statements offer information from theory and research with examples and suggestions for what it means in your work with children. This series of position statements includes topics such as the benefits of a home-like environment, the power of open-ended materials, and the benefits of incorporating the arts.
Town Square Research to Practice Statement: Supporting the Development of Executive Function
Learn, Share, and Grow series cover a particular topic over a series of short video segments. So if you only have 5 minutes, you can watch one, and if you have more time you can watch a whole series. Check out these short professional development segments on topics of interest to family child care professionals on the Professional Development page.
“ZERO TO THREE is a national, nonprofit organization that provides parents, professionals and policymakers the knowledge and know-how to nurture early development. Our mission is to ensure that all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life.”
Zero to Three has resources related to development, health, screen time, relationships with families and handouts for ages and stages. The resources are presented in a variety of formats and geared for educators, child care providers, advocates and parents.
