This measure looks at how sensitive teachers are to the needs of their students and how promptly they respond to such needs. Teachers must effectively and promptly comfort the children when they need reassurance. The teachers must also value the children’s needs, celebrate their accomplishments, and show acceptance by responding positively and using comforting words. For example, if an infant falls and cries, the teacher must comfort the child by picking the child up with care and hugging the child. At the same time, when a toddler says, “Look!” and shows the teacher their block tower, the teacher should say, “Good job! You did it!”
Category: Category 2: Teacher-Child Interactions
Subcategory: Warm and Responsive Style
Examples
In this section you will find videos, images, and/or documents that can be used to better understand this measure. These examples can also be used in conversations between mentors, directors, and/or teachers to discuss how the program's current practices compare to these examples.
Video Example
In this video from CLI, teachers demonstrate being predictable when caring for babies. Responding to signals promptly and predictably helps infants to begin to trust that their caregivers will consistently acknowledge their needs warmly and responsively.
Age(s): Infant
Video Example
In this video from CLI, teachers demonstrate being predictable when caring for toddlers. Responding to signals promptly and predictably helps children begin to trust that their caregivers will consistently acknowledge their needs in a warm and responsive manner.
Age(s): Toddler
Video Example
In this video, teachers demonstrate comforting toddlers in moments of distress. Responding promptly and sensitively to children when they show signs of discomfort helps them build a sense of trust in their caregivers.
Age(s): Toddler
Video Example
In this exemplar video, a teacher follows a baby’s lead and supports her by giving warm encouragement. Responding promptly and sensitively to infants builds trust and also enhances learning.
Age(s): Infant
Video Example
In this exemplar video, a teacher demonstrates responding promptly and sensitively to two children as they ask for help in a busy classroom. Responding promptly and sensitively to children increases the likelihood that they will communicate about their needs, ideas, and interests.
Age(s): Toddler
Video Example
In this series of video segments, teachers respond sensitively to infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and after-school children throughout the day. Responding to signals promptly as they play, learn, and communicate helps children begin to trust their caregivers will consistently acknowledge their needs in a warm and responsive manner.
Age(s): Infant, Toddler, Preschool, School-age
Video Example
In this exemplar video segment, a teacher responds promptly and warmly to a child who has questions about transitioning from circle time to centers. The teacher acknowledges the child’s thoughts and ideas about how the transition should be done and then explains why it must be done a certain way.
Age(s): Preschool
Practice Opportunities
These resources include tips, strategies, activities, or specific tools related to this measure that programs can put into practice.
Activity
As children practice asking for help and expressing their needs during this activity, teachers can model calm, supportive responses that help children feel valued and understood.
Age(s): Preschool, School-age
Publication
This document from the Department of Early Education and Care describes techniques caregivers can use to respond promptly when they recognize that babies are using gestures.
Age(s): Infant
