Infant Program
"Good infant care is neither baby-sitting nor preschool. It is a special kind of care that resembles no other." PITC
"Infancy is a vulnerable stage of development; therefore it’s not enough that babies receive good care, the care must be excellent."
Magda Gerber, developer of the RIE program
Leaving a baby in childcare is very difficult for families. Infants are too young to talk, they cannot tell families about their day. Baby MacBean Infant Care Homes offer safe, secure and nurturing infant care. Our staff understand babies; we know how to read your baby's emotional cries, facial expressions and body language. Our infant care homes provide an enriched environment, where babies are encouraged to explore, touch, feel, and express themselves, under the guidance of warm, encouraging staff members.
Sportscasting
A baby's mind has an amazing capacity for learning language. 'Sportscasting' is the term infant specialist Magda Gerber coined to describe the nonjudgmental, “just the facts” verbalization of events she advised parents to use to support infants and toddlers as they struggle to develop new skills. As care providers we sportscast what the child is doing. This helps the child develop their language as they see items and hear the words in context. It also helps to validate their experiences. If they are struggling to stack blocks that keep tumbling, letting them know you are aware of their struggle can give them the support to continue their efforts. This may sound like:
"I see you are trying to roll over. You are turning your body and stretching your arms. You did it! You rolled over."
"You are climbing up the ladder of the slide. I will stand next to you to help keep you safe. Oh, now you've changed your mind and are climbing back down. I am here and won't let you fall."
"It's time to change your diaper. I am going to pick you up now. We're walking to the changing table. I'm going to lay you down. Down, down, down. I will unsnap your onesie. One, two, three."
Including your non-verbal child in this way also shows them respect as you invite them into the conversation.