Child Development and Child Care GUIDED DISCUSSION
Let’s look at page 5 of your booklet. We can see that children can be divided into four major age groups:
1. Infants, under 1 year 2. Toddlers, 1 to 2 years old 3. Preschoolers, 3 to 5 years old 4. School Age, 6 to 10 years old
Each age group has different abilities, different needs, and different challenges. If you turn the page, you’ll see that the Safe Sitter®
Guide to
Child Development tells you about each age group, and this information will help you understand what each age group needs from you. Take a moment and read over the chart, and then we’ll answer a few questions together. [Give participants a minute to read over the material.]
• What age groups can understand and follow rules? (Preschoolers and school age.)
– Children 3 years of age and older are usually able to understand and follow rules. Toddlers and infants cannot. Behavior management will be covered in a few minutes, so we’ll talk about how to manage the behavior of each age and stage at that time, but for now, remember that only preschoolers and school-age children have the ability to understand and follow rules.
• What age group is beginning to walk? (Toddlers.)
– Toddlers are beginning to walk, but remember that infants may begin to pull themselves up to standing and take a few steps even earlier – around 8 months or so is not unusual.
• Can you tell a toddler not to run into the street while you are walking with them on the sidewalk and trust that they will do that? (No; toddlers are too young to know or follow the rules.)
– With a toddler, you must constantly watch for and prevent dangerous situations. If you are walking with them on the sidewalk or crossing the street, hold their hand so you can prevent them from darting out into the street.
• What age group needs comforting when they are upset? (All age groups.)
– We all need comfort when we are upset. School-age children may seem mature when you are caring for an infant, but they are still children and need comfort when they are upset. The chart gives you some ideas of what may help comfort children of each age and stage.
• Can you leave a 5-year-old alone to play in a fenced-in yard? (No; preschoolers require constant watching.)
– Preschoolers require constant watching. They are curious and will not always recognize a dangerous situation. They may imitate
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