Infants and Their Families
Infancy is, perhaps, the most difficult time for parents to leave children in the care of someone else; caregivers need to be sensitive to the different ways that parents cope with taking this step. Some parents find it easy to develop a good relationship with caregivers while others “are clearly sad and need more emotional support and reassurance”, while still others “may become competitive with the infant care teacher” (Copple & Bredekamp, 2009, p. 59). Add to these differences the multitude of ways that families regard “correct” parenting. For example, they may believe that babies should always be in the presence of adults and that their needs be immediately met at all times; crying and fussiness are unacceptable. The caregiver, on the other hand, might well believe that waiting a short time to respond will provide babies with an opportunity to learn independence. At times like these, it is essential that caregivers cultivate their communication skills and find solutions that work for everyone. Establishing informal and ongoing methods of communicating will lay a foundation for dealing with the more sensitive issues. Ideas might include notes home, phone calls, e-mail, text messaging, photographs, and casual conversations, along with the more formal conferences.