KQED | Family: Parents: KidsWatch: Safely Swaddled


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Safely Swaddled

Children flourish in families filled with nurturing, love, recognition and respect.

Each child is unique and needs to feel accepted and supported by a family--or families--of caring and responsive people. Honor and expand children's understanding of "family" throughout their early learning years by inviting them to share and explore a family theme with meaningful activities, discussion and books.

INFANTS
Forming attachment is baby's primary developmental task and shapes the foundation for future relationships. Attachment is the trusting, loving connection between an infant and a caregiving adult (usually its mother). Attachment develops when baby's needs are met; when crying is consoled, eye contact is met and gurgles are answered with coos. Nurture infants' attachment and support families in ways that reflect home routines. The trusting foundation you build with babies will boost self-confidence and serve them well as they grow and learn about the diverse and changing world around them.

TODDLERS
Contradictory messages about families and traditions can be confusing and bewildering for tots who are developing a sense of self. Help toddlers feel comfortable and secure by creating concrete connections between their families and child care settings. Point out similarities: "We take a nap after eating lunch, too" and differences: "We take our shoes off before coming inside" in daily routines. Because toddlers learn through imitation, introduce them to new family notions by gathering them around age-appropriate family-like experiences, including mealtime rituals, seasonal traditions and pretend play (with props donated by children's families).

PRESCHOOLERS
For these children, family rituals can provide predictability, familiarity, comfort and security. But because of their age, preschoolers may believe everybody does things the way their families do. Broaden their view of family (while fostering cooperation, interdependence and acceptance) with activities that imitate how families work, play and learn together. Stock the dramatic play area with props supporting children's exploration of family-and gender-roles (cooking utensils, briefcases and baby dolls). Watch how youngsters interact with one another and occasionally offer suggestions for further expanding their views.

SCHOOL-AGE
These children are better able to recognize and appreciate family differences and cultural identity. Sharing differing traditions and celebrations can help them understand and begin to build a sense of community, belonging and friendship. Deepen children's experiences with a discussion of ancestral "roots" and how they anchor all people in the support and strength of their families. Include relatives and extended families (including non-biological members) and the gatherings that bring them all together. You may want to talk about life cycles and how families change over time by births and deaths.

Related Books

Loving by Ann Morris, Lothroop, Lee & Shepard, 1990 (3-5)
This picture book shows families from all over the world-loving, caring for, teaching, and playing with each other.

Family Pictures/Cuadros de Familia by Carmen Lomas Garza, Children's Book Press (3-7)
In fourteen vignettes, the author takes us back to her childhood in Kingsville, Texas. Her art and stories beautifully capture a loving Mexican American family picking nopal cactus, making tamales, and receiving a visit from a curandera, a healer.