Early Childhood Care

IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan)

A plan that outlines early intervention services for children with disabilities from birth to age 3 and their families.

IEP (Individualized Education Program)

A written document that outlines the educational plan for a child with a disability, including specific educational goals and services.

Personalization

Tailoring educational plans to meet the unique needs of each child.

FREE Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)

A legal requirement under the IDEA ensuring that children with disabilities receive appropriate education at no cost.

Holistic Development

A comprehensive approach that addresses cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth in children.

Exploratory Play

Play where a child manipulates toys to investigate their properties, such as shaking or banging them.

Relational Play

Play involving the assembly and disassembly of toys, like stacking cups.

Functional Play

Play where a child uses toys in a practical manner, like pretending to feed a doll.

Symbolic/Dramatic Play

Pretend play that involves using items to represent real-life activities, like using a block as a phone.

Unoccupied Play

The earliest form of play where infants observe without engaging in specific activities.

This type of play involves children exploring their environment and activities without any specific goal, often seen in very young children. It includes behaviors such as wandering and observing, as children learn about their surroundings.

Infants, around 0-3 months.

Solitary Play

Play where a child focuses on their own activity without intermingling with others.

This type of play occurs when a child plays alone, engaging with toys or activities independently, and not interacting with other children.

Onlooker Play

A stage where children watch others play but do not participate.

Parallel Play

A form of play where children play adjacent to each other without direct interaction.

In parallel play, children engage in similar activities side by side, observing each other but not directly influencing one another's play. This stage typically occurs in toddlers, around 2-3 years old.

Associative Play

Play where children begin to interact, sharing toys, though not fully cooperating.

In associative play, children engage in similar activities and start to communicate and share materials, but they do not organize their play towards a common goal.

Cooperative Play

The most advanced stage of play, characterized by children working together with shared goals.

In cooperative play, children actively engage in group activities, taking on specific roles and collaborating towards a common objective, enhancing social skills and teamwork.

Summary of Stages: 

1. Unoccupied Play – Observing without active play. 

2. Solitary Play – Playing alone. 

3. Onlooker Play – Watching others play. 

4. Parallel Play – Playing alongside others without direct interaction. 

5. Associative Play – Sharing toys and interacting, but still individual play. 

6. Cooperative Play – Playing together with shared goals and roles.