This comprehensive introduction to infant and toddler development, responsive program planning, and responsive relationship-based curriculum incorporates all of the themes crucial to providing quality education and care to our youngest, very capable members of society. Woven through this book is the importance of:

• recognizing the capacities in every child
• recognizing and respecting individuality and diversity in all children (in every chapter, as well as with in a separate chapter on children with special needs)
• understanding family culture and ecology’s influence on children
• understanding and implementing the components of a quality program

 Early childhood educators using this book will learn many practical aspects of the relationship-based approach, such as:

• how to interact with infants and toddlers to promote development
• how to use a responsive, relationship-based approach and in the daily curriculum daily
• how to use routines, transitions, and other opportunities to respond and relate to infants and toddlers
• how to plan for individual children and groups
• how to set up the environment to promote development
• how to document observations
• how to respond to common guidance issues
• how to be professional and ethical