What does the Emerging Curriculum teach us about empowering babies?

Question

My understanding of a child-centred approach to planning and the emerging curriculum falls short when it comes to including babies 8 weeks - 18 months. What can you tell me?

Answer 1

Oh yeah. Empower an eight week old baby. Now there's an untapped decision making resource.

Answer 2

In our program, for infants it meant providing individual activities at each baby's level or encouraging a baby's interest. We actually developed a card file of activities and would choose at least one for each child daily. For example, Johnny is starting to pull-up, so maybe we'd do something as simple as encouraging that in different places around the room, and then encourage him to take that next step: literally, that next step (LOL).  Or maybe we saw that Susie was starting to clap her hands, so we'd sing "If You're Happy and You Know It' and encourage her to clap her hands. You might notice one day that Sally gets very excited and likes peek-a-boo, so you might plan to do that with her.  For infants, their interests show in what they do and what they're trying to do.  You have to be very alert to their development and know what milestones come next.  

For young toddlers, they are beginning to speak, play more with toys, and are more mobile. They might actually start to demonstrate interest in various topics. I remember doing a little project about bugs when the kids were excitedly seeing bugs outdoors and saying "bug". So, I brought in books, an insect collection jar so we could observe some bugs, sang songs about them, etc.

HTH!

Answer 3

I'm not sure how much curricullum planning any kind of school has for that age. Most the curricullum is diapering, eating, sleeping and then start over again.