The Infant Toddler Specialist Network (ITSN) works to elevate the standards of care in early childhood settings by increasing the knowledge, skill level, and confidence of those who care for infants and toddlers. The ITSN provides opportunities for specialized training, technical assistance, and coaching with highly skilled specialists.
The ITSN offers support at no cost to early childhood educators in all Alabama counties and across all settings – licensed centers, exempt centers, and family or group care homes.
According to Zero to Three, the first three years of a child’s life are uniquely important because, during this period, a child’s brain produces more than a million neural connections each second! The development of the brain is influenced by many factors, including a child’s relationships, experiences, and environment. The experiences a child has during these years will shape the architecture of the brain and build the connections that allow the development of lifelong skills like problem-solving, communication, self-control, and relationship building.
Because of this crucial, from birth to three, developmental period, it is important to ensure children receive high-quality early care and education that provides warm, secure child-caregiver bonds.
When infant and toddler educators are responsive to children’s needs, early learning opportunities are possible!
