Watch Quality of Infant Care: Investing in Relationships, complete this handout as you watch the video. The video is located in BMCC’s Library Academic Video Online: Premier database, follow these instructions or this video to access the video.
Read Barbre (2013), complete this handout as you read
Barbre (2013) chap 1Read Responsive Caregiving (2016), complete this handout as you read
Responsive Caregiving (2016)Answer the questions below, cite specific evidence from both readings and video:
- What does an infant teacher do? Include specific evidence from both readings and the video.
- Why do you want to be an infant teacher? Make specific connections to both readings & the video.
- What skills and qualities do you have that will make you a good infant teacher? Make specific connections to both readings & video.
Reply to 1-2 other comments!
1) Infant teachers support, motivate, encourage, and care for infants. They provide a loving, nurturing and stable environment.
2)I would like to be an infant teacher because I want to make a difference . In my experience I’ve seen a lot of children struggle because of something they missed out on during early child development. Infant teachers build the foundations for a child’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical needs.
3)I feel like I am very patient, caring, present,emphatic ,and nurturing . Infants need someone who will be their to answer their cries, they need to feel like they are loved and wanted at all times.
Hi Brittney,
I agree that those are great qualities to have when working with infants.
Zoe — thanks for replying to Brittney’s comment. I wonder, why are those great qualities?
Hey Brittney! I agree with you we all want to be able to make a difference and want to help many children feel loved.
Brittney — Thanks for your comment in this activity. You shared many qualities of an infant teacher. Infant teachers who are nurturing often individualize routines and use the 3 R’s — respect, responsiveness, & reciprocity — to build bonds with babies. I wonder, how does your comment connect to the video and readings in this activity?
1) An infant teacher provides a loving, nurturing, stable, and responsive learning environment for all the children that are in their classroom. You consistently have a positive environment with your children. You create a setting that relaxed and peaceful
2) I want to be an infant teacher because I want to be able to create a setting for kids where they always enjoy coming. I want to be a mother one day so hopefully being an infant teacher can help me learn how to have a positive relationship.
3) I am caring, loving, nurturing, consistent. I always try to have a positive conversation with anybody I am around and I try to be positive to anyone that comes around me.
Hi Diamunique
I agree with you because I think that we all want to be infant teachers in order to learn how to create positive relationships. The video “Attachment Theory—Understanding the Essential Bond”, stablishes that It is through relationships that the child learns to think. When the baby is able to signal a feeling to the caregiver, he learns that the caregiver responds. Finally, I would like to add that I want to be an infant teacher because I can learn from them, the interactions I have with them can help me to become better a person.
Hi Diamunique! I agree with you infant teachers should provide lots love and create a positive environment for them and yes I agree with you about becoming a mother one day, these classes will help us learn how to create a beautiful relationship with our kids.
Hi Diamunique,
I agree with your reasoning on why becoming an infant teacher, it would be nice to making an welcoming environment space for infants and help them learn and myself.
Lesly — Thanks for replying to Diamunique. I wonder, why would it be nice to make a welcoming environment for infants to learn and for yourself?
Diamunique — Thanks for your comment in this activity. Being responsive, as well as respectful and reciprocal, helps infant teachers build positive relationships with babies in which babies feel valued. You list many qualities of an infant teacher. I wonder, how does your comment connect to the video and readings in this activity?
1. What does an infant teacher do? Include specific evidence from both readings and the video.
-An infant teacher provides responsive care and environment, meets the needs and safety of children. Barbre (2013) states “As a responsive caregiver you do a lot! To make a long story short, you provide a loving, nurturing, stable and responsive learning environment for all children” These are important qualities and steps an infant teacher need to provide because it leads to the growth and development of the whole child.
2. Why do you want to be an infant teacher? Make specific connections to both readings & the video.
– I want to be an infant teacher because I would love to support a child’s personal, academic, cognitive and social progress. Another reason is that due to poverty there are many children who do not have the opportunity to attend an early childhood program so I would like to support those children and provide them with quality care, because when children do not attend these programs they usually have developmental delays.
3. What skills and qualities do you have that will make you a good infant teacher? Make specific connections to both readings & video.
– I am patient, caring, loving and nurturing. These skills and qualities are important to be a good infant teacher because it is essential to the well-being of children.
Hi Daniela,
I think the skills are very important to master because working with infants is a handful and they are always up to something. Being energetic is important too because you’ll need tons of energy to keep the infants under control.
Daniela — Thanks for your comment in this activity. You connected your comment to the Barbre (2013) reading. Using the 3 R’s and individualizing routines is what infant teachers do to build bonds with babies. I wonder, how does the other reading and video connect to your comment?
1.- What does an infant teacher do? Include specific evidence from both readings and the video.
Teachers do millions of things at the same time when taking care of infants (multitask). We need to be able to provide love, attention, good care, as well as being a responsive teacher who can understanding the cues the child is trying to give us, so we can find the best way to help them to improve their learning development. According to the article “Infant care giving: How to be responsive”, infants need a caregiver who can respond to their needs, interests, and abilities. Finally, Jean Barbre states “You provide a loving, nurturing stable and responsive learning environment for all children… You respond to their needs quickly and appropriate. Because infants and toddlers are wholly dependent on adults for their care and safely” (7).
2.- Why do you want to be an infant teacher? Make specific connections to both readings & the video.
I want to be an infant teacher because I think children can make me a better person, I can learn new things from them and be ready for different kinds of situations. I want to work with children because it is what makes me happy, children are beautiful human beings who deserve all my respect and consideration. Being an infant teacher is very hard. However, it is a regarding job, because I can give children the love and support, they need in order to develop their learning development. Barbre states “You also follow children interests so their activities, remain child directed. Encouraging infants, toddlers, and twos to discover and explore their world freely. You offer them activities that stimulate grow across the social, emotional, physical, cognitive and language development domains” (8). In addition, the video “Quality of Infant Care: Investing in Relationships”, showed the importance of having an emotional connection with infants “Every child needs a caregiver who makes an emotional investment in the child. If there is no emotional investment, it does not happen. I absolutely agree with it, because we need to create an emotional bond with the infant so they can feel secure, loved and that we are always going to respond to their needs no matter what”.
3.- What skills and qualities do you have that will make you a good infant teacher? Make specific connections to both readings & video.
Personally, I believe that I have the qualities required in order to work with infants and children. Barbre states “The essential qualities of responsive caregivers are caring, nurturing, knowledgeable, patient, reliable, consistent, flexible, and humorous” (8). I agree with the author, If we lack some of those qualities, we would never be able to handle the job. We need to give children a pleasant treatment, give our best, be responsive by meeting their needs, so we can create a bond of trust. According to the video “Quality of Infant Care: Investing in Relationships”, Every child needs a caregiver who provides time, focus and consistency, every child needs a caregiver who uses skills to be responsive to the child and every child needs a caregiver who communicates with the child in many ways.
Marcela — Thanks for your comment. As infant teachers, the basis of our work is using relationship-based practices (the 3 R’s and attachment) and individualizing routines. We build attachments with babies, and their families. Watching the development of an infant is a powerful experience. You connected the readings and videos to your comment.
1) Infant teachers are there to help a child grow in all aspects of life. They are there to care, love, nurture, problem solve, and meet the child’s needs. This helps to set up the fundamentals a child needs in order to progress in life. This will help them have the skills they need later on in life.
2) I want to become an infant teacher because I believe that I can help nurture infants in their critical years of life. I hope to help them to be able to create strong bonds with other people and give them the tools they will need to make those connections with other people. I would also like to think that I could help to change their lives or give them another way to look at life. In the video, they were talking about how every child’s eyes need to light up in order to have that bond with a person and I love that feeling of being able to connect with another human even though they are small. being able to connect like that is a special thing. They just need that one positive person in their life an hopefully I can be that one.
3) I think I can read infants fairly well. I am able tune into their needs and hopefully help them even though they cant speak. I’m also really patient with infants. Things definitely can get frustrating but it’s up to us to figure out what they need and try our best to not give up even when it gets hard. I also think that watching someone grow in any aspect of life is a special thing to see and I really enjoy being apart of that. I feel super lucky that I would even get the opportunity to be a part of that experience. I also really cherish the relationships that I have with infants. Those bonds are super important and special to be a part of.
hi Zoe, I agree with you because a infants teacher is there, to help the child with all aspect of life.
Hi Zoe, I agree with you because read and understand baby cues is important to meet their needs.
Zoe –Thanks for your comment in this activity. Connecting and bonding with a baby is a powerful experience. Being attuned to babies is essential when using reciprocity and developing attachments. I wonder, how does your comment connect to the video and readings in this activity?
1- Infant teachers are there to help please children needs and they are also there to nurture, love, support, and give attention. These help a child grow in all aspects of life and to gain skills that they need for their future.
2- I want to become an infant teacher because throughout my life I have been taking care of my sibling and baby cousins from birth and I learned that I can nurture other infants and I could please their needs. I could gain their trust and create a healthy bond with other infants by giving them toys, love and lots of attention. I could also learn more by creating a bond with the families. I would help them grow in many ways by making them feel more comfortable with other people. I also want my children to come to a place where they love coming too.
3- The skills and qualities I have is when they cry I will leave what ever I was doing to go see what the infant/toddler needs whether if they are hungry or they just want attention or even play I’m really patient when it comes to infants and toddlers. It is my responsibility to care for them even when they are getting upset I will try to do my best to please them. Being able to have their trust is really important because I know they trust me and I will be able to create a bond with them. Seeing an infant grow is amazing, I’ve seen my 3 year old brother-in-law grow from an infant to a toddler and it amazes me because I can see how much they have grown and improved a lot.
Madelin — Thanks for your comment in this activity. Infant teachers create bonds with babies using relationship-based practices (the 3 R’s) which leads to attachments. We cannot work with a baby in isolation — we have to work with families in conjunction with babies. I wonder, how does your comment connect to the readings and video in this activity?
What does an infant teacher do?
As an infant teacher you provide “loving, nurturing, stable, and responsive learning environment for all children” (Barbre, pg7)
Why do you want to be an infant teacher?
I want to become an infant teacher because I have always been the to-go-to babysitter for my family members and friends. Children enjoy having a playful teacher who has lots of energy and I am always ready to play and make the infant laugh. I am able gain their trust by communicating with them and being able to understand their cries to know exactly what I need to do.
What skills and qualities do you have that will make you a good infant teacher?
Having patience is very important when working with infants because they express themselves through crying, screaming anything that can grab an adults attention. According to Barbre the essential qualities an infant teacher should have are “…Caring, nurturing, knowledgable, patient, reliable, consistent, flexible and humorous” (pg8) having these traits will help you better understand the infant and the infant would know it is in a caring, lovable environment and feel safe.
Brenda — Thanks for your comment in this activity. Being able to read a baby’s unique signals & cues — reciprocity — is important to working with babies. Along with respect & responsiveness, infant teachers use those relationship-based practices to build bonds that become attachments along with individualized routines. You connect your response to the Barbre (2013) reading. I wonder, how does your comment connect to the Responsive Caregiving (2016) reading and video.
1. An infant teacher has to be kind, nourishing, caring, gentle, and provide safety.
2. I want to be an infant teacher because I believe the first few years are important in a human’s life and I want to make positive difference in their life.
3. I’m very patient and a good observer. I’m also optimistic.
Elizabeth — Thanks for your comment in this activity. You list serval qualities for infant teachers. Being an objective detailed observer helps infant teachers to be responsive and reciprocal. I wonder, how does your comment connect to the readings and video in this activity?
1) Infant teachers provide support, nurture, love, attention, care and a stable environment.
2)I would like to be an infant teacher because I want to make a difference in the community and I have always taken care of babies in my family and in my building. Nurturing for children has become second nature for me and I would like to help them by changing their lives by providing care and nurture for each child.
3)I feel like I am very patient, caring, organized, very detailed oriented and nurturing . Infants need someone who will be there for them at all times to keep them safe and make a difference in their lives.
Hi Selanie, I agree that will be able to make a difference in the community because myself been surrounded with children and watch them achieve milestones.
Selanie — Thanks for your comment in this activity, Infant teachers who are nurturing use individualized routines and relationship-based practices — respect, responsiveness, reciprocity — to build strong bonds with babies. You list many qualities for infant teachers. I wonder, how does your comment connect to the readings and video in this activity?
1)Infant teachers make sure the environment the baby is like in the article Barbre (2013) it should be lovable, gentle, supportive and etc.
2)The reason I want to become an infant teacher is because like mentioned in the reading Barbre (2013) babies need more attention because their helpless and it would be nice to teach them and watch them learn everyday. Also in a way I have seen my siblings grow and that babies stage is so precious.
3)Some skills and qualities I have that will make me a good infant teacher would be caring when it comes to babies, patient, love-able , entertaining.
Lesly — Thanks for your comment in this activity. Being lovable and supportive connects to using relationship-based practices — respect, responsiveness, and reciprocity — which promotes attachments with babies. Watching babies develop, which happens at such a rapid rate, is a joy of working with infants. You connect your comment to Barbre (2013). I wonder, how does your comment connect to the video and other reading in this activity?
#1. What does an infant teacher do? Include specific evidence from both readings and video.
An infant teacher provides caretaking for the infant by being responsive to his/her needs. The teacher provides a safe environment where the infant is encouraged to reach healthy developmental milestones. The timeline is on spectrum and includes brain development, cognitive and physical – motor skills. The infant teacher will become adept to recognizing individual patterns (i.e.: sleep and eating schedules) to adjust routines. The infant teacher provides well-being to the infant while in their care.
#2. Why do you want to be an infant teacher? Make specific connections to both readings & the video.
I want to become an infant teacher because I am in awe of them. I love children and want to play a part in their development and growth. I have come to understand what the expectations of caregiving are.
The handout “Responsive Caregiving”(2016) states that ” Responsive caregiving is essential to the wellbeing of infants, children birth to 3years old”(Brebner, Hammond, Schaumburg, and Lind 2015).
I have learned that establishing trust with infants/toddler’s is the key component to building a relationship.
“Caregivers for infants, Toddlers and two’s, genuinely care about the health and wellbeing of the youngest children “(Foundations of Responsive Caregiving: Infants, Toddlers, and Twos: Jean Barbre (2013). My intentions are to follow these directives to provide the best caregiving in this setting.
3. What skills and qualities do you have that will make you a good infant teacher? Make specific connections to both readings & video.
I will be a great infant teacher because I love them! I understand that I am expected to “provide a loving, nurturing, stable and responsive learning environment” (Foundations of Responsive Caregiving: Infants, Toddlers, and Twos: Jean Barbre (2013)
Furthermore, after watching the video “Quality of Infant Care: Investing in relationships” I learned of the importance of communicating with the parents to better respect their child when in my care.
My intention is to respect the infant by providing for their needs while building a relationship