Includes bibliographical references and index.

Part One. A Responsive, relationship-based approach -- Chapter 1. Relationships as the basis for curriculum -- Chapter 2. opportunities for engaging families -- Chapter 3. Responsive, safe, and healthy caregiving routines -- Chapter 4. A Responsive, relationship-based environment -- Chapter 5. Endless opportunities for guidance and relationship realignments -- Chapter 6. Using observation and documentation for responsive planning and ongoing assessment -- Part Two. Opportunities for relationships and learning -- Chapter 7. Opportunities for attachment and emotional development and learning -- Chapter 8. Opportunities for social development and learning with peers -- Chapter 9. Opportunities for learning and thinking -- Chapter 10. Opportunities for language, literacy, and music learning -- Chapter 11. Opportunities for movement and motor development and learning -- Chapter 12. Opportunities for fine motor development and learning -- Chapter 13. Opportunities for creative, symbolic/dramatic play, and sensory development and learning -- Chapter 14. Opportunities for learning about the outdoors.

This book helps parents, caregivers, and early interventionists prepare curriculum for our youngest learners. To encourage learning, the authors use a three-step approach - Respect, Reflect, and Relate. It will help those who care for infants and toddlers to translate their knowledge of child development into an effective, individualized curriculum; it will not tell them what to do on Monday, but rather will help them to ask: "How will I make decisions on Monday that truly come from the child's interests?" Through observation, they will choose a response that supports learning and relationships, and will therefore achieve the primary goal of an infant/toddler care teacher- to support the parent-child relationship.