Babies Need Partners

10/26/2011

Open-ended loose parts and inspiration that nature provides enhance the freedom and opportunities for children’s inventiveness to flourish.
Christine Kiewra and Ellen Veselack

In her article "Secrets for Early Childhood Professionals" in the Exchange Essential "Caring for Infants and Toddlers," Alice Honig encourages infant caregivers to be responsive, reciprocal partners with the babies in their care:

"Each caregiver needs to be willing to develop an "I-THOU" relationship with a baby, rather than to treat the baby as a non-verbal object who is pleasant enough and can be easily given a bottle or a diaper change from time to time. Babies thrive on body loving, with lots of cuddling and lap time. But just holding is not enough. Every baby needs a tuned-in adult partner committed to genuine engagement with the unique little person that each baby is. Quality infant/toddler caregivers fine-tune a special relationship with each baby...

"Every baby needs a 'tuned in partner' to dance with emotionally. The quality caregiver interprets signals of distress — crying, compulsive self-rocking, or vacant eyes — promptly and accurately. Tender personal comforting promotes baby's positive attachment and primes cooperativeness and kindness with others."

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