ABSTRACT

Services for young children have gone through a period of rapid transformation in recent years, which have been paralleled by great advances in our knowledge of early child development. However, care and education in the first three years of life continues to be a neglected area.

Thoroughly updated to take account of key policy and practice changes in childcare provision, this landmark text translates child development theory and research into everyday practice. All the practical ideas in the book have been developed and tested in nurseries, family and children’s centres and include the importance of providing opportunities for adventurous and exploratory play for babies and toddlers, understanding and responding to children's emotional needs and offering personalized and sensitive care. The book also explores different ways of working with parents and the role of early years settings and practitioners in helping to keep children safe. It includes chapters on:

  • Childcare policy and services
  • Planning spaces for living, learning and playing
  • Babies in day care
  • Heuristic play with objects
  • Mealtimes
  • Learning out of doors
  • Leading and managing a childcare centre
  • Involving and working with parents
  • Safeguarding children

People Under Three is an established practical text for all those training to work with young children or managing day care facilities. Focusing on the care and learning of very young children, it is designed specifically for those who look after them day by day, as well as being a useful resource for social work students and policy makers.

chapter |5 pages

Introduction

chapter 1|14 pages

Childcare policy and visions of childhood

chapter 2|16 pages

The key person

chapter 4|22 pages

Babies in day care

chapter 5|15 pages

The Treasure Basket

chapter 6|19 pages

The second year of life

chapter 7|15 pages

Heuristic play with objects

chapter 8|21 pages

Children in their third year

chapter 10|21 pages

Out of doors

chapter 11|14 pages

Leading and managing in the early years

chapter 12|17 pages

Building a staff team

chapter 13|24 pages

Bridging the child's two worlds

chapter 14|17 pages

Safeguarding children

chapter 15|8 pages

Elinor Goldschmied 1910–2009