Caring for Infants: Case Study 1

Question 1:

      In Case Study 1 Ronnie and Shawna speak with the children even though they are not developmentally ready to speak themselves for various reasons which have been researched for several years. Through infant research and studies, we know that babies listen to language, understand number concepts, learn from their changing behavior as they rollover, sit, and stand, always counting on the help of others (esp. adults) to gain knowledge about themselves, others, and the world.  Infants (birth-9 months), mobile infants (8-18 months) eagerly engage in exploration, and toddlers (16-36 months) continue to form their identity(DAP, pp..53,54). It is the parents and teachers that who need to respond to toddlers'feelings, interests, and distress. They form activity patterns relatively early as well as distinct sensory preferences. Long before they can speak, babies are constantly making noises from what they have heard since their short whie stay at the ereoport. They like to watch other babies, make noises, and no new situaions. People are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of educational growth teaching.
      In this Case study there are so many great ways in which Ronnie and Shawna are working to maximize the infants' literacy development at this beginner level. I hear over and over again, both in readings supported by research, as well as from parents with personal experience, that babies need a rich environment full or color, visual things to look at and play with, and having things out and visable (like toys) rather than cleaned up and tucked away does more for the baby's learning. In this case for example, the classroom has many toys and is willed with color, like colored blocks, as well as diverse people and activities going on in its environment. They also incorporate sounds and images that are familiar and therefore comforting to the infants (i.e. family pictures on cribs and music that is played at home), as well as new things to expand the child's recognition. 
      As the DAP suggests, Shawna and Ronnie include parents in the development process as Natalya, feeds and sings to her baby in Russian. In this environment the infants are being exposed to many sounds, which is necessary for developing the brain as much as possible during this crucial period. When a baby hears Russian and English there are picking up more sounds and eventually will be able to sort out the English from the Russian. Infants often practice their verbal skills by making different sounds. Ronnie encourages this when she imitates the baby's sounds and asks him questions, and it becomes a game, and helps to eventually develope the meaning of conversation in the child at a later point. Practicing these sounds now will help the infant in the later part of the beginner stage to create the sound schemas needed for speech. They will be able to use this experience to put together familiar sounds to form words. W also see the teacher aide practicing this with the children, but also providing them with short periods of quiet time to practice their own vocalizations. Babies learn from imitation, and both teachers and other babies serve as models to imitate and hear new sounds in this environment. As the infant lays on the changing table and kicks his legs and moves his arms, we see he is developing his motor skill schemas. Allowing the infants to crawl around independently also helps to practice these skills. 
    The infants also practice social skills as they interact with adults and other babies, helping to identify their "self". We see the infants being picked up, propped up, sitting in the teachers' laps, being fed, spoken to, being "introduced" to other babies in the room, etc. They do so in a caring environment, where each child's needs are addressed, and take care of, which is building trust. Trust and comfort is needed in order to move forward, with restraint. This kind of an environment, where there is trust and children feel safe is important at all ages in the classroom.


http://www.preksmarties.com/babies/
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