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<\/h3>\nBest practice for infant care focuses on the unique characteristics and needs of each individual child. Our best practice is exhibited by the environmental design which includes those individual needs\/characteristics. The design of our infant room acknowledges and reflects the field of study\u2019s researched elements of such a best practice environment.<\/p>\n
We focus on individualizing our setting and assuring developmentally appropriate practices are used to ensure that all children can fully participate and be engaged even at our infant level.<\/p>\n
One major challenge to implementing best practices in infant care environments is the rapid pace of development in a child\u2019s first year of life. To keep pace with that developmental growth in an environment with many developing infants is a major challenge.<\/p>\n
Each child and family involved in the program will be able to access the environment as it relates to individual development by accessing the forms, centers, communication concerning individual children and appropriate materials. Beyond the obvious benefits of modeling best practice, there are benefits in terms of shared goals and communication.<\/p>\n
<\/h3>\nInfants show body language, facial expression and active engagement that suggests physical, emotional and cognitive experiences are positive. By educator observation, cognitive growth is assessed and emotional experiences are evaluated. To this point, all infants have progressed in development in all areas.<\/p>\n