Play-based opportunities: Young children learn through play. Free play and guided play enable infants and toddlers to train motor, cognitive, and social skills in context (Nhase et al., 2025). As an illustration, singing together or playing pretend games can encourage sharing, cooperation and language.
4. Promoting Overall Development, Learning & Wellbeing
Early learning environments facilitate whole person development through responsive relationships, predictable routines and play. Key strategies include:
- Secure attachments and emotional security: Infants receive responsive, sensitive care that offers a secure base. Babies who are provided with consistent comfort and predictable responses form emotionally secure attachments that cushion stress and facilitate exploration (Lally & Mangione, 2017). This trust builds confidence and curiosity in infants. Indeed, the emotional base is essential in subsequent language and cognitive development.
- Routines: Children feel in control when they have clear schedules and soft transitions (such as between play and snack). When caregivers employ straightforward language to signal first breakfast, then story, they teach children to predict what will happen and socialise (Lally and Mangione, 2017). Routines, therefore, incorporate learning (language, self-help skills) into daily activities.
Family partnerships and documentation: It is necessary to work with families and observe children. Teachers record the interests, strengths, and routines of each child to customise interactions and curricula (NAEYC, n.d.). Communicating these observations with parents consolidates learning in both home and care environments and assists the well-being of each child.
These holistic approaches collaborate to promote the overall development and well-being of infants and toddlers.
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