Magda Gerber, an infant expert from Hungary, was a pioneer in infant care who taught that infants and toddlers (I/T) deserve the same respect that adults give each other. Her “Philosophy of Respect” included ten principles; (1) Involving I/T in things that concern them, (2) Investing in quality time, (3) Learning that each child has a unique way of communicating, (4) Investing energy and time in the total child, (5) Respecting I/T as worthy by not comparing them, (6) Being honest about your feelings, (7) Modeling the behavior you want to teach, (8) Recognizing problems as learning opportunities by letting I/T try to solve their own, (9) Building security by teaching trust, (10) Being concerned about the quality of development in each stage not the idea of faster is better.

Infants: Linking Words to Events - Infants need to hear words, and these words should be linked to real events. It is important for adults to engage in talking to infants when giving personal care (changing diapers, or feeding) and during playtime. Describe what is happening as it occurs because your running commentary will contain the labels infants and toddlers need to learn. When they start to respond turn your monologue into a dialogue by imitating the sounds they are starting to make.

Toddlers: Adult Enthusiasm - Play provides the interaction of imagery, imitation, and language, which builds the foundation that, is necessary for learning. Adults should facilitate learning and enjoyment through I/T experimentation. There is no single best method, the most important factor seems to be the adult’s enthusiasm. Tell stories, sing songs, and recite nursery rhymes from my book Teaching with Heart. Make sure to make room for their participation and responses. Don’t just entertain them; interact with them.

Preschoolers: Activities – Literacy is the ability to listen and speak, and it eventually leads to reading and writing. It has its beginnings in a variety of early everyday experiences, and these meaningful experiences and interactions with others are the keys to its development. Shared reading experiences strengthen children’s confidence as readers, by establishing an understanding of a story’s structure, and develop critical thinking skills. Reading helps to develop a strong memory model of written language, expands vocabulary, and problem solving techniques. The following activities can help:

1. Prepare shopping lists with children.
2. Encourage reading and following recipes when cooking.
3. Take children to library once a week or at least every other week.
4. Make books important gifts. Put them in Xmas stockings and Easter baskets. These
don’t have to be expensive, but they let children know that reading is valued.
5. Have the child dictate stories to you, and then let the child illustrate them.

Adults can do much to provide an environment rich with the materials of literacy. They should respond to children’s questions and comments. Early readers tend to come from homes where parents read to them, help them write and read, and often read themselves.

LET US DARE TO READ THINK SPEAK AND WRITE (John Adams 1765)