Student Resource Area for: Guiding Children's Social Development and Learning, 6E
Chapter 2 - Initiating Social Relationships in Infancy
Exercise 2.8 Support Children Having Special Needs
Decide if the caregiver's behavior is appropriate or inappropriate in each of the following scenarios. Before clicking the “answer’ link, think about the reasons for the behavior and what would be a better alternative if the behavior is inappropriate.
1. Mrs. Crompton, the center director, mentioned that Richard, who would be entering the program today, had serious allergies to cow's milk. Kathy followed up this comment and talked to Richard’s mother about his allergies and what he should be fed. She recorded this information, posted it above his crib, and alerted the other caregivers. She followed the parents' feeding directions exactly.
Answer
2. Duane has a feeding tube in his stomach. Ms. Townley, his mother, has scheduled a special meeting to demonstrate how to feed the infant through the tube and provide any other special information regarding his health. Ms. Maslach, who is one of the caregivers, feels uncomfortable caring for Duane. Because there is always someone else around to take care of him, Ms. Maslach just does not come to this meeting, stating later that she was too busy, even though the meeting was scheduled just before her regular work at the center and the center offered to pay for the extra time involved.
Answer
3. Elliot screams and squeals when he wants something. He avoids eye contact and wriggles away when he is touched. His caregiver has read his family service plan and is following the agreed upon strategies as diligently as is possible in her program. She regularly writes in his journal that travels with him back and forth daily.
Answer
4. Ms. Killen looks through the local conference program and selects a workshop on identifying children with special needs, even though she currently does not have any babies with known special needs. She wants to be educated in the event that a child in her care exhibits special needs tendencies.
Answer
5. Caroline has Down syndrome and attends the center daily. She is with the group of babies who are just beginning to crawl and creep, although she has not yet done so even though she is considerably older. Her caregiver places her on the floor with the other children when she is happy and tries to encourage her to reach out for toys. Caregivers talk to Caroline as they would young babies and provide quality basic care. Her progress at the center has been slow, but steady. Caregivers regularly talk to Caroline's parents who have had some difficulty in accepting that Caroline will always experience challenges in learning.
Answer