Scaffolding Infants’ Play Through Empowering and Individualizing Teaching Practices

Abstract

Research Findings: Using a qualitative research approach, this article explores teachers’ roles as scaffolders of infants’ play and the changing nature of their individualized support for infants’ learning and development through play in an infant group care setting. Three infant teachers in a child care center were followed over 3 months. Observations, interviews, ongoing conversations, e-mails, and reflective notes were used as data sources. Findings revealed that the teachers thought deeply about their roles as supporters of infants’ play, and they made intentional choices in scaffolding infants’ play. Each teacher's ways of empowering infants in play were grounded in her views of infants as learners and were individualized to accommodate children's unique learning styles and personalities. Practice or Policy: This study provides a window into the ways in which teachers working with the youngest children can set the stage for later learning.