1. Exploration and Experience
O’Brien-Chapter 5

2. Curriculum for Infants & Toddlers
Curriculum=Every ______________ of the day, every toy or other object with which they come into contact, & every experience they have with another child or teacher
Children are learning __________; therefore, teachers need to be teaching constantly
A curriculum plan must balance ______ ____________, flexible & adaptable for ranges of developmental levels/needs, & provide opportunities for children to _______________________________

3. Curriculum for Infants & Toddlers
Infant Play
Primarily ____________-________________________________& find out about things through their _________
Teacher’s job=___________________________________________________________
Curriculum=variety of materials, planned & organized social play, individualized 1:1 opportunities for building close relationships
Toddler Play
Activities must be __________________________________
Goal=have opportunities to encourage exploration of objects & materials, as well as themselves & other people
Teacher’s job=_______________________________________
Themes for Play
Helps provide a balance between novelty & familiarity
Increased opportunity for ____________ of activities to allow children to build on previous learning experiences
Begin to build a ______________ around materials provided
Encourages teachers to use the same set of words frequently; children are more likely to grasp the meaning behind the words & repeat them

4. Types of Play Activities for Infants & Toddlers
Play presents opportunities for learning when materials are attractive and ____________________________, activities are
________________, and teachers are __________________________ to children’s interests
Focus on_________________________________ that infants & toddlers are likely to experience
Do not require elaborate props; those that resemble real objects or are real objects
Take part in simple role-playing activities
House & Doll play
Typically come in sets with lots of pieces that fit together to create a play scene (farm/airport)
They will _______________________ how the toys can be used/how they go together; stacking blocks/connecting Legos is a learned skill
___________________________ (blocks with animals)=increased opportunity for creativity & imagination
Building toys
Primarily intended to be fun; does not necessarily have to focus on specific skill acquisition
Teacher’s goal=encourage __________________________, build on children’s interest/curiosity, gain confidence in their skills
Active play
Large toys are a great way to start the day
___________________in the classroom are a good way to make the _____________ from home to school
Favorite toys=kept out all day, on low shelves; should be rotated every month
Parallel play toys

5. Types of Play Activities for Infants & Toddlers…cont’d
Encourage active involvement & provide variety and stimulation
Teachers should be actively involved in play on the playground
Expand children’s ______________________________________
Outdoor play
Works best in _______________ with 1 teacher
Goal=provide children with _________________________________________________________
Work on the _________________________________
Some children will find sensory activities unpleasant or are tactilely sensitive; invite to participate, but never force (provide an alternate activity)
Art & Sensory experiences
Infants & toddlers love to explore books with _______________________
Allow children to discover books _______________ as well as being read to
________________ picture books/laminated pictures are great, too!
Books & Stories
Enjoy hearing the rhythm & rhyme, rather than the quality of the voice
Great for ________________ and to _________________ restless children
Helps children to _________________________
Children will begin to imitate the motions of songs
Songs, rhymes, and fingerplays
* Videos: see next slide

6. Organizing Play Activities with Infants
Successful play activities require teachers to have lots of _______________________
Young infants are more interested in _____________________
Unable to sustain their involvement with toys for more than _____________________
Older infants (once they gain locomotion) want to _______ rather than sit & play
Planning play activities with infants
Materials-Based Activities (look at pg. 91)
Teacher’s responsibility=providing a variety of materials to explore & experience, interacting w/baby to extend & enhance play, providing lots of love & affection, having fun, encouraging children to remain busy, follow the child’s lead
Toys are rotated every ___________________
Enough _______________________ so that each child has his own
Toys are easily manipulated & have large pieces
Thematic Activities
Activities focus on a weekly theme & are organized around the categories of house/doll play, building, active play, and art & sensory experiences
Repetition of activities throughout the week helps babies learn

7. Conducting Play Activities with Infants
Overall, teachers are responsible for:
introducing the _____________
getting _________________ in play
______________ the children’s activity
using their ______ as learning goals
_________ for all children
maintaining a __________________
Teachers must be ________________ in children’s play
Goal of play= for infants to have a maximum of opportunities to ________________ new materials & events w/involved adult guidance
Teachers need to promote special outcomes for children with special needs
Position children with special needs directly _________________ so the children can readily see & hear what is happening
Teacher can also _________________________ between other children & the child w/special needs
Children are _____ required to demonstrate that they have learned a specific skills in order for an activity to be a success

8. Organizing Play Activities with Toddlers
Scheduling play activities for toddlers involves providing a balance between the familiar & the new, between active & quiet play, and between individual & social play
Toddlers need to have as many _________ as possible
Teacher’s role=______________________________________________________________________________
Planning play activities with toddlers
Teacher can carry out a specific activity organized around the main activity areas in the classroom (house/doll play, building, etc.)
________________________ should be available for toddlers to choose from; _____________ as their “interest” calls them
Toddlers are more cooperative & open to learning if they have selected the activity themselves
Prearranged grouping should _______________ for activities that require ___________________________
____________________________
Materials needed for play should be organized/prepared ahead of time
______________ are almost always more interesting & offer more opportunities for creative play
It’s OK to mix the animals with the trucks!!
Switch areas & conduct activity in a “new” area

9. Conducting Play Activities with Toddlers
Successful play activities depend on ______________
Teachers should know the weekly theme, learning goals, & their scheduled activities in advance
Keep non-mobile children right by the teacher so opportunities for the child’s active involvement can be provided
Play activities may need to be _________________ to address specific outcomes for the child with special needs
Goal of play=____________________________________________________________________________
Toddlers learn from _____________ they do
Often need time to process what they see & hear before they can demonstrate what they have learned
Supervising is more than just “watching;” it is encouraging toddlers to become involved, teaching language & appropriate toy use, preventing disruptions & aggression, responding to children’s individual needs, using positive redirection, & being alert to health & safety
Teacher-led activities should last for about _____________________
Scripts for toddler play
Helps to _____________________________ & encourages more active participation on the part of the child
Increases pretend play
House/doll areas are most obvious situations for scripted play