PRINCIPLE 10 Be concerned about the quality of development in each stage. Don’t rush infants and toddlers to reach developmental milestones. One child in an infant-toddler program was born prematurely and another one has been determined to be developmentally delayed. The staff at the center treats all children as individuals. They never push development but instead watch the children reach developmental milestones, each on his or her own schedule. This concept of individual development is particularly important in this program. Their motto (which they got from Magda Gerber’s work) is “in time; not on time.” The child with the development delays is being carefully monitored by an infant interventionist and has an individualized family service plan (IFSP) that has been carefully thought out. All the children see pediatricians regularly. Recently this program received a notice that their continued funding will be dependent on their ability to get all the children in the program to developmental milestones on time, except for any officially-identified children with special needs. The staff has been mandated to take training on a ‘diagnosis and prescription’ method of using activities and exercises to bring all of the children closer to reaching the milestones. The staff and director are horrified.

1		What is your reaction to this situation?
2		Is there a value to allowing children to develop at their own pace? Explain your answer.
3		Are there disadvantages to allowing children to develop at their own pace? If yes, what are they?
4		Do you think the activities and exercises could make a difference? Explain your answer.
5		Do you have experience with being pushed to achieve? If yes, does your experience relate to infants and toddlers? If it does, how? Related Web Links