PITC National Symposium 2006

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PITC National Symposium 2006
If We Asked Infants to Design Their Own Childcare
Presenter J. Ronald Lally, WestEd
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Infant As Citizen

• The child would vote to be seen as a citizen with
  rights and choices in the present not as an
  instrument of societies future economic or social
  success
• Right to Be
• Right to Become
• Right to Enjoy
• Right to Choose

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Child Sees Self As Competent

• Curious, motivated, self starting learner
• Imitator, interpreter, integrator,
• Explorer, inventor
• Communication initiator
• Meaning seeker
• Relationship builder

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Child Sees Self As Vulnerable

• Dependent on adults for
• Physical survival
• Emotional security
• Safe base for learning
• Regulating, modeling and mentoring social
  behavior
• Information and exchange about the workings of
  the world and rules for living.

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What Child Expects From Adults

• Nurturance
• Support
• Security
• Predictability
• Focus
• Encouragement
• Expansion

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How They Want To Be Viewed

• With a need for the love and support of trusted
  adults
• With a passion and emotion that is at the base of
  their knowledge construction.
• With an inborn drive to explore, experiment,
  invent and use things in unpredictable ways
• As a social being
• As an individual with rights and membership in a
  group that has its own identity and goals

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Preferred Setting For Care

• Care provided in safe, interesting, and intimate
  settings where they have the time and opportunity
  to establish and sustain secure and trusting
  relationships with other children and
• with knowledgeable caregivers who are responsive
  to their needs and interests.

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• Preferred Policies For Care
• Primary Care
• Small Groups
• Continuity of Care
• Personalized Care
• Cultural Responsiveness
• Attention to Their Special Needs

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How They Would Prepare Their Teachers

• For thoughtfulness
• As researcher rather than practitioner
• Schooled in the creative use of time,space
  materials
• Trained to document, reflect, plan and adapt
• Prepared to engage in daily exchanges with
  children, teachers, supervisors, families and
  others.

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Daily Experiences They Would Prefer

• Amazement Imitation
• Marvel Surprise
• Excitement Observation
• Invention Hypothesizing
• Transformation Communication
• Disorientation Contemplation
• Reflection Connection