Infant Toddler Learning & Development Foundations

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ment system, the foundations offer a
common language for infant/toddler
program directors, teachers, and families
to reflect on children’s developmental
progress and plan experiences
that support children’s learning and
development during the first three
years of life.
Professional development is another
key component in fostering infant/toddler
learning and development. Professionals
now have opportunities to
become informed: through the infant/
toddler learning and development
foundations, the CDE’s Infant/Toddler
Learning and Development Program
Guidelines, the CDE’s Desired Results
Developmental Profile (DRDP), and the
Program for Infant/Toddler Care (the
comprehensive approach to training
collaboratively developed by the CDE
and WestEd). The foundations can
become a unifying element for both
preservice and in-service professional
development efforts. For infant/toddler
programs, directors and teachers
can use the foundations as a basis
to reflect on children’s developmental
progress and to plan experiences that
support children’s learning and development
from birth to three years. The
foundations are designed to provide
infant care teachers with knowledge
of the competencies necessary during
the first three years of a child’s life and
later on in preschool and school.