10 Principles of Child Development

Involve infants and toddlers in things that concern them

example: Allow them to make choices that affect them, what toy to use

Invest in quality time

example: spend intentional time with each child and allow them to get to know you to allow you to build trusting relationships

Learn each child’s unique way of communicating and teach them yours

example: observe their cues and responses, and use a consistent approach to facilitate understanding.

Invest time and energy to build a whole person

example: foster a child’s emotional, social, cognitive, and physical development through nurturing and support.

Respect toddlers and infants as worthy people

example: acknowledge their feelings, listen to their needs, and enable them to express themselves, promoting a sense of autonomy and self-worth.

Be honest about your feelings

example: share your emotions openly and appropriately, modeling emotional expression and encouraging children to do the same.

Model the behaviour you want to teach

example: model positive behaviours and attitudes, demonstrating appropriate social interactions and emotional responses for children to observe and learn from.

Recognize problems as learning opportunities, and let infants and toddlers try to solve their own.

example:present challenges that are developmentally appropriate, allowing them to explore solutions independently, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Build security by teaching trust

example: create a safe and supportive environment where children feel valued and respected, encouraging them to develop trusting relationships with caregivers and peers. if you say you are going to do something, follow through.

Be concerned about the quality of development in each stage

example: monitor and assess children's progress across various domains of development to ensure they are meeting developmental milestones and receiving appropriate support.