As noted in the Curriculum section, individualizing care takes place within a program’s research-based infant and toddler curriculum. Education staff have many ways to find out about children’s development and learning, interests, temperament, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and other strengths and needs. In addition to informal observations and ongoing child assessment, staff learn about children through:
- Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) for children with diagnosed disabilities
- Resources that provide information about children’s language experiences, such as Gathering and Using Language Information That Families Share
- Infant Toddler Temperament Tool (IT3)
- Frequent conversations and other communications with children’s families
These resources inform how staff use their curriculum to intentionally plan learning environments, experiences, routines, and interactions that are individually responsive to infants and toddlers.
