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Supporting infant/toddler communication, language, and literacy development

Kanizfatema Khangar

Early childhood education, Fleming college

EDU 131: child development 1

Instructor: Stephanie Childs

Feb 9, 2025
 EDUC 131 Assignment 1:
Supporting infant/toddler communication, language, and literacy development
Due Week 5
Worth: 15%

Learning Outcomes Assessed:

1. Identify theories/theorists/themes of child development that influence pedagogical approaches in

early learning.
2. Support healthy social, emotional, physical, cognitive and language development in children.
5. Discuss the professional duty that early childhood educators have to develop and nurture caring,
responsive and respectful relationships/partnerships with families and support families through the
sharing of knowledge and community resources.
6. Communicate professionally both verbally, and in written documentation.

Intent of the assignment:

 To be able to select picture books that support communication, language, and literacy
as well as cultural understanding in the early years.
 To explore resources about the benefits of reading and sharing books with infants and
toddlers to share with families.
 Please be aware that there are 3 steps to this assignment. You must complete all 3
steps

You will need these resources to complete this assignment:

Step 1

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Resources

Content from Week 3

Step 2

Kail and Zolner Textbook

Continuum of Development
Excerpts from ELECT

Step 3

Online search

Instructions: scenario
You are an RECE working with infants and toddlers. Recently, at a staff meeting, your
supervisor shared that the program can apply for some new funding to enhance resources for
the children, including books. The supervisor asks the educators to make recommendations of
books for the program. To meet the criteria for the funding the application must include
resources which support Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI).

Step One: Explore picture books and select two

There are many different ways you can look for books. If you are working in child care, you can
look through the books at your centre or ask colleagues for recommendations. You may know
someone with a baby or toddler and ask to look at the books they have. You can also go to
your local library or the children's section of a bookstore. The staff can probably give you some
help. Be sure to look for books specifically for infants and toddlers.

OR

You can also explore books online. There are many recordings of stories on YouTube.
Remember, however, that you are expecting to bring actual books into the centre. You don’t
need to comment on any read aloud recordings that you watch.

Once you have explored a number of books, select 2 picture books that you would recommend
for a child care centre. One book can be about any topic of interest to infants/toddlers and one
book must be related to the principles of JEDI. The books must be developmentally
appropriate for infants and/or toddlers (topic is of interest to them, there are few words, and the
book is visually appealing).

Complete the charts provided below to describe the books you have chosen and why you have
chosen them.

Book #1 (5 marks)
 Title of book: Where is Baby’s belly button?
Author(s) and illustrator(s) of book: Karen Katz
Date published: 29 Dec 2009
Describe why an infant and/or toddler would like this book. Why is it developmentally
appropriate?
(Suggested length: 2 paragraphs)
This book would appeal to infants and toddlers since it allows them to concentrate on familiar
items or body parts, which are inherently fascinating to them. A lift-the-flap book reinforces
this concept in a fun way. Children love interaction. This book encourages interaction with
family and caregivers, such as pointing and naming body parts. A bright and bold picture
captures children’s attention.

This book will develop children in many ways. First, it introduces basic vocabulary related to
body parts and helps to build language skills. Second, it provides a sense of touch and builds
body awareness. Finally, it creates a positive association with books.

Book #2 (must support Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion~ JEDI) (5 marks)
Title of book: Eyes That Kiss in the Corners
Author(s) and illustrator(s) of book: Joanna Ho, Dung Ho
Date published: 5 Jan 2021
Describe why an infant and/or toddler would like this book. Why is it developmentally
appropriate?
This book will probably children like it because this book shows colorful and expressive faces
that will draw babies and toddlers’ attention. This book provides fascinating Visual focus
points. While language of this book is also understanding.

“Eyes that kiss in the corners” is developmentally appropriate for infants and toddlers for
several reasons. Firstly, the description of eyes and their connection with family members are
repeated which helps with language development. It also expands their vocabulary. This book
emphasizes the connection between mother, grandmother, and sister which makes it personal
and relatable. They can learn family bonding.
How does this book support the principles of JEDI?
(Suggested length: 2 to 3 paragraphs)
This book shows the beauty of Asian eyes. A young Asian girl notices that her eyes look
different from her peers. They have big, round eyes and long lashes. A young girl finds beauty
in her uniqueness. This shows diversity. Children can understand the diversity of different
countries.
Also, this book promotes self-acceptance and self-belonging. This creates an environment
where everyone feels valued and respected for who they are.

Step Two: Make connections to professional resources

The continuum of development in Excerpts from ELECT (Ontario Ministry of Education,
2014) (5 marks)

Study the Infant and Toddler continuums in the Communication, Language, and Literacy
Domain. (The Infant continuum begins on page 20; the Toddler continuum begins on page 32).
Identify three skills that you believe will be supported with the books you are recommending.
Include the skill number and at least one indicator of the skill.

Skill, including the Indicator (s) Explain how your book suggestions will
number (e.g. support the development of these skills.
Receptive
Language, 3.1)
Skill 1 Observing own hands. “Where is Baby’s belly button” book illustrates
2.3 Sense of Self learning the body parts for children such as
hands, head, nose, lips, eyes, and all body parts.
Through this child can understand their own.

Skill 2 turns the pages of the Whenever children read the book, it will improve
5.2 Fine Motor book, their holding power. They can learn how to grasp
Pincer Grasp adapting holding from books. Also, it will develop their reading skills.
palmar or pincer grasp

Skill 3 looking at photos and There are a lot of pictures in both books which
3.1 Non-verbal books with adults, develop children's understanding. Such as the
Communication Skills sharing attention with an caregiver explains the book through images
adult, looking at the same children can able to communicate through facial
thing as the adult. expressions. They are being able to point the
pictures in that book.

For example, for Skill 3.1, Receptive Language, the indicators of the skill include “listening to
stories and responding to names of body parts, commands and personal pronouns”. (Ontario
Ministry of Education, 2014, p. 32). This is supported by this book because it is a story book
that labels different body parts.

The textbook (Kail & Zolner, 2018) (5 marks)

From your reading of the textbook, explain how sharing books with infants and toddlers
supports communication, language, and literacy development. You are expected to explain the
concepts in the textbook in your own words, to show evidence that you understand these
 concepts. Must make a minimum of two points shared in the textbook. (Suggested length 1 to
2 paragraphs)

Sharing Books with infants and toddlers supports Many ways in communication, language, and literacy
development. Through book sharing, children can recognize others' emotions. Children can develop
their language skills. They will learn and expand new vocabulary. For instance, I chose a book about
body parts. Through this book, children can learn to recognize their body parts. It will develop their self-
concept. Self-concept is the most important thing to learn in the childhood.
In addition, through book sharing children can identify cultural differences. Children can learn more
about cultural heritage and values. They are being more socialized. The book I chose ‘Kiss in the
Corner’, also shows cultural differences.

Step Three: Sharing resources with families (5 marks)

Find an online resource about books and reading to infants and toddlers that you would share
with families. Provide the link to the resource and give a brief explanation as to why you
selected this resource. (Suggested length 1 to 2 paragraphs)

Resource: Canadian children’s literacy foundation (CCLF)

https://childrensliteracy.ca/Programs/Early-Words/Inside-Early-Words/What-is-early-words
CCLF gives lots of information about parenting in multiple languages such as Hindi, English, Arabic,
Urdu, and many more. There are many articles and resources on this website.
I chose “How should I handle screen time at home” from the Canadian Children’s Literacy Foundation.
https://childrensliteracy.ca/cclf/media/PDFs/Early%20Words/Provider%20Toolkit/Tip%20Sheets/
TipsforFamilies_Screens.pdf
There are many tips in this resource for parents such as putting away your device during mealtime, and
creating rules at home like when, why and how long will be using the screen.
I have selected these resources due to some reasons. Firstly, in the technological era, every parent
suffers from children’s screen time. Also, it emphasizes the importance of interactive play. It also aligns
with the Textbook’s part about brain development. This resource is very valuable in today’s digital era
for families who are looking for a healthy environment for children

Your assignment will also be assessed for Professional presentation: (5 marks)

 Be sure to include a separate cover page and a separate references page.

 Ensure that you use properly formatted APA citations and references for all sources,
including images.
 Proofread your work before submitting to check for spelling and grammar errors.

This assignment will be graded with the following rubric:

Each Exemplary, Solid to strong Emerging Weak

component outstanding ~3.0-3.9 ~2-2.9 ~below 2
marked out of ~4-5 All information has Some inaccuracies, Information is missing,
5 All information has been provided, it is information missing, many inaccuracies, few
been presented in detailed and with few connections/details, or
great detail, is accurate connections connections/details component was not
accurate with strong to textbook and other completed.
connections to resources
textbook and other
resources.
Additional
information or
connections may
have been included.

Book
Suggestion 1
Book
Suggestion 2
Skills from the
Continuum of
Development

Connections to
the textbook
Resource for
families
Professional
presentation

References

Kail, R & Zolner, T. (2018) Children: a chronological approach (5th edition)Toronto, ON:
Pearson

Ontario Ministry of Education. (2014). Excerpts from ELECT: Foundational knowledge from
the 2007 publication of "Early learning for every child today: A framework for Ontario early
childhood settings". https://www.ultimateschoolagers.com/uploads/7/6/2/8/76285121/elect.pdf

References:
Kail, R & Zolner, T. (2018) Children: a chronological approach (5th edition) Toronto, ON: Pearson

Ontario Ministry of Education. (2014). Excerpts from ELECT: Foundational knowledge from the 2007
publication of "Early learning for every child today: A framework for Ontario early childhood settings".
https://www.ultimateschoolagers.com/uploads/7/6/2/8/76285121/elect.pdf

Canadian’s children literacy foundation. (n.d). https://childrensliteracy.ca/Tips-Resources

Reference of book images:

1. Where is baby’s belly button:

Retrieved from: https://www.simonandschuster.ca/books/Where-Is-Babys-Belly-Button/Karen-
Katz/9781416987338
2. Eyes that kiss in the corner:
Amazon. (2021). Eyes that kiss in the corner. Amazon. https://www.amazon.ca/Eyes-That-Kiss-
Corners/dp/0062915622