{"product_id":"2940011820786","title":"A Parents' Guide to Ensuring a Successful Day Care Experience for an Infant or Toddler","description":"Once parents make the difficult decision to place their infant or toddler in day care, they must face the equally formidable task of deciding which day care center will best serve their baby's needs.  Unfortunately, some mother and fathers fail to realize that no matter where their child spends her day, a large portion of the responsibility for fulfilling her most important requirements will remain with them; and to the extent that they do not factor in their on-going involvement in every aspect of their child's care, whatever arrangements are made will be inadequate.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe first two or three years are a unique and delicate time of life.  The foundations of intelligence, language, personality, social competence and other significant facets of human development are forming; and the learning that occurs in these areas takes place on a fundamental level.  Unlike older children, infants and toddlers cannot have educational experiences scheduled into specific periods according to superimposed lesson plans.  Little by little, they are learning about everything – continuously.  Therefore, the elements of consistency and persistency are essential.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFurthermore, the elements of intensity and intimacy play a more critical role than they will later on.  During these early years, educational experiences are greatly enhanced by the presence of external enthusiasm, and heavily dependent upon respect for individual differences.  Consequently, infants and toddlers thrive when they receive prompt, personal attention from people who are concerned and excited about their achievements, and when exposed to custom-made environments well matched to their interests and abilities at each stage of their rapid development.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis presents problems, both for mothers and fathers who must be away from their babies between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, or longer, as well as for day care personnel who are obligated to make the welfare of an entire group of children their top priority.  In this light, satisfying an infant's or toddler's special stipulations is not something that can be done solely by the parents during a few hours in the evening, nor can it be done completely in the course of the day by even the most competent center acting alone.  The only answer is a cooperative arrangement whereby everyone ensures that the child is attended appropriately around the clock.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTherefore, as they go about the business of selecting an ideal facility, mothers and fathers should definitely look for certain standards of quality.  However, in order to ensure the best circumstances possible, they also must reconsider and reinforce their own commitment to be full partners in their child's day care experience.","brand":"William Gladden Foundation Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46497608171761,"sku":"2940011820786","price":3.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0674\/5433\/7265\/files\/2940011820786_p0.jpg?v=1765936104","url":"https:\/\/shop.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940011820786","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble","version":"1.0","type":"link"}