1. Positive Teacher – Child Interactions: Infant and Toddler Staff

2. In the first three years of life, a child develops: Mental model of self Mental model for relationships Stress management Ability to pay attention Motivation to achieve Because of this knowledge, we must be about RELATIONSHIPS and not about items or equipment we can buy or curriculums we can add to our programs! We must be all about the relationships we build with them!

3. If you stick your tongue out at a newborn, they will automatically stick out their tongue back at you. They do this because their mirror neurons are firing; these help them to imitate what they are seeing. Mirror neurons are important for understanding the actions and intentions of other people, and for learning new skills by imitation. They are involved in planning and controlling actions, abstract thinking, and memory. As children observe an action, their mirror neurons fire and form new neuro-pathways as if they were performing the action themselves.

4. Efficient mirror neuron activity leads to good overall development in all areas and leads to higher emotional intelligence and the ability to empathize with others.

5. This connection “downloads” to the child’s frontal lobe, just as data downloads to a computer. The frontal lobe is home to the child’s personality and emotion control center.

6. The motivation to behave comes from being in a relationship Connections made with others literally wires the brain for impulse control Ingredients for Connection Eye contact Gentle touch Being present in the moment Playful interactions

7. Sophia, 10 months old, enters the class one morning with her mother just as the teacher is changing another child’s diaper. “You can set Sophia over there and give her a book. I’ll be done in a minute.”

8. Thelma, the Lead Toddler teacher, is sitting at a table, snapping photographs of the children as they played. DeShante approached, gripping a block in his hand and says “Bl….bl….” Thelma says “DeShante, take the block back to the rug, please.”

9. Thelma, the Lead Toddler teacher, is sitting at a table, snapping photographs of the children as they played. DeShante approached, gripping a block in his hand and says “Bl….bl….” Thelma says “DeShante, take the block back over to the rug.”

10. The relationships you build with the children must be the most important component of your work; these develop with solid connections. ALL social, physical, and emotional development starts with a CONNECTION, so teachers must always be “on.” Teachers must be conscious of their state at all times…and always be in a place of peace.

11. Your state becomes a child’s self- regulatory system. If you’re frustrated, the child can –and probably will—be frustrated too!

12. What do you do when a child cries?

13. Relax Yourself: take a deep cleansing breath and blow it out Bring child close (let him rest his head on your chest, close his arms and legs in) Take a deep breath and exhale with a soft “shhhhhh”

14. When a baby stays in a distressed state for an extended period of time, the amygdala- the lower center of the child’s brain--gets overdeveloped! The amygdala is the most primitive area of the brain and is constantly alert to the needs of basic survival. If this center gets over-stimulated. it will continue to grow. An over-developed amygdala will result in other parts of the brain being under-developed, causing delays and possibly a lifetime of problems!

15. Relax Yourself: take a deep cleansing breath and blow it out The goal is to help the child be acquainted with his feelings state, so why not try this: “Your face is telling me you’re sad because it’s going like this….” and then mirror the expression.

16. The biggest gift we can give to children is the gift of ourselves by being conscious and present with them at all times!

17. Conscious Discipline for Infants and Toddlers Workshop: Dr. Becky Bailey Baby Doll Circle Time, Dr. Becky Bailey and Elizabeth Montero-Cefalo, 2014 Your Child’s Growing Mind: Brain Development from Birth Through Adolescence. Jane Healy, 2014 Internet sites: childcareexchange.com, consciousdiscipline.com