Child development

• Every child is a unique individual with their own characteristics and temperament.
• Development is a continuous, complex interaction of environmental and genetic factors in which the body, brain and behaviour become more complex.
• Babies and children mature at different rates and at different times in their lives.
• Babies and children are vulnerable and become resilient and confident if they have support from others.
• Early relationships strongly influence how children develop and having close relationships with carers is very important.

Video

Where's Tyler — In a childminder's home, the childminder and the young toddler are involved in an interaction involving words, actions and touch. [transcript]

You can watch the video, via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video.  You do need to have the flash plugin.

Talking at the table — In a childminder's home, the childminder supports a small group of children, including a baby's non-verbal communication, at a shared snack time. [transcript]

You can watch the video via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video.  You do need to have the flash plugin.

A skilful communicator

• Babies are especially interested in other people and in communicating with them using eye contact, crying, cooing and gurgling to have 'conversations'.
• Babies and children are sociable and curious, and they explore the world through relationships with others and through all their senses.
• Babies and children develop their competence in communicating through having frequent, enjoyable interactions with other people, in contexts that they understand.
• Children learn to communicate in many ways, not just by talking, but also in non-verbal ways such as gestures, facial expressions and gaze direction, in drawing, writing and singing, and through dance, music and drama.

Video

Where's Tyler — In a childminder's home, the childminder and the young toddler are involved in an interaction involving words, actions and touch. [transcript]

You can watch the video, via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video.  You do need to have the flash plugin.

Talking at the table — In a childminder's home, the childminder supports a small group of children, including a baby's non-verbal communication, at a shared snack time. [transcript]

You can watch the video via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video.  You do need to have the flash plugin.

A competent learner

• Babies come into the world ready to learn and are especially tuned to learn from other people and the cultural and material environment.
• Play and other imaginative and creative activities help children to make sense of their experience and 'transform' their knowledge, fostering cognitive development.
• Language, thinking and learning are interlinked; they depend on and promote each other's development.
• What children can do is the starting point for learning.
• Children learn better by doing, and by doing things with other people who are more competent, rather than just by being told.

Video

Where's Tyler — In a childminder's home, the childminder and the young toddler are involved in an interaction involving words, actions and touch. [transcript]

You can watch the video, via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video.  You do need to have the flash plugin.

Talking at the table — In a childminder's home, the childminder supports a small group of children, including a baby's non-verbal communication, at a shared snack time. [transcript]

You can watch the video via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video.  You do need to have the flash plugin.

Effective practice

• Understand the processes involved in babies' and children's growth, development and learning.
• Support babies and children to develop a positive sense of their own identity and culture, this helps them to develop a positive self-image.
• Encourage, listen and respond to babies' and children's communications, both non-verbal and verbal.
• Acknowledge the different ways in which babies and children learn, and be aware that learning is a process that cannot be rushed.
• Recognise that babies' and children's attitudes and dispositions to learning are influenced by feedback from others.

Video

Where's Tyler — In a childminder's home, the childminder and the young toddler are involved in an interaction involving words, actions and touch. [transcript]

You can watch the video, via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video.  You do need to have the flash plugin.

Talking at the table — In a childminder's home, the childminder supports a small group of children, including a baby's non-verbal communication, at a shared snack time. [transcript]

You can watch the video via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video.  You do need to have the flash plugin.

Challenges and dilemmas

• How to meet the differing and competing needs of every child, while being 'fair' about time spent with individual children.
• Listening carefully and waiting for a child who gets excited or pauses a lot when they are trying to communicate, so that they can complete what they wanted to say.
• Recognising and praising effort as well as achievement so that all children develop positive attitudes to themselves as learners.

Video

Where's Tyler — In a childminder's home, the childminder and the young toddler are involved in an interaction involving words, actions and touch. [transcript]

You can watch the video, via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video.  You do need to have the flash plugin.

Talking at the table — In a childminder's home, the childminder supports a small group of children, including a baby's non-verbal communication, at a shared snack time. [transcript]

You can watch the video via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video.  You do need to have the flash plugin.

Reflecting on practice

Think about each child in the group. Consider their:

• unique development;
• individual interests;
• communication style;
• learning style.

How is each child's individual development supported through all the experiences in the setting?

Video

Where's Tyler — In a childminder's home, the childminder and the young toddler are involved in an interaction involving words, actions and touch. [transcript]

You can watch the video, via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video.  You do need to have the flash plugin.

Talking at the table — In a childminder's home, the childminder supports a small group of children, including a baby's non-verbal communication, at a shared snack time. [transcript]

You can watch the video via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video.  You do need to have the flash plugin.