INFANT STIMULATION PROGRAMMES 3 (0+3)

Module 1: Visits to different Child Care Centers

Practices followed by the care giver or Caregiver Competencies

• The ideal ratio for young children less than 6 months should be one care giver for five children. For 7- 12 months it is 1:8, for 1 to 2 years 1:12, so that individual attention can be given. For example an upset child can be held, talked to etc.
• Children appear happy, comfortable and relaxed - laughing, smiling, involved in play.
• Children enjoy one another - smile at each other, hold hands, hug, help each other more than they fight or argue.
• Caregivers communicating effectively with children - explaining in clear steps what they want the children to do, answering children's questions patiently, frequently kneeling down to the child's eye level when talking, maintaining eye contact with the children, read the children’s needs etc.
• Caregivers seem warm and affectionate with the children, smiling, cuddling, and speaking pleasantly.
• Caregivers use children's first names or nick names when talking to or about them.
• Caregivers do not refer to children by unpleasant names, such as "smarty," "brat," etc.
• Caregivers are seen working and playing with the children more than standing back and directing or ordering the supporting staff in the center.
• Care givers are co-operative and divide and share the work uniformly
• There is no assigning of children to particular care giver as only she attended to child
• At least one caregiver knows where all the children are. For example, if a parent comes to pick up a child, a caregiver knows who and where the child is. .
• Caregivers encourage children to do some things for themselves, patiently giving time and help and praise so that the child can learn to master the skill such as getting a drink alone, washing hands, putting away a coat or toy etc.
• The caregivers are people you would like your child to copy or imitate. In other words, children are apt to "do as caregivers do, more than as they say."