Overview

Relationships are a central feature of early childhood pedagogy, foregrounding practice with babies and young children. This book explores how babies foster a sense of belonging in spaces outside of the family home. It emphasises the important role the early childhood workforce and other professionals play in creating opportunities for babies to thrive and the positive influence this can have during infancy and beyond. Presenting international cross disciplinary perspectives, the book explores all aspects of working with babies, emphasising the contested and changing nature of the concept of infancy, ethical principles, and baby’s rights. Divided into four parts, the chapters cover: The awe and wonder of babies and quality care – ethical care, participation, voice and rights, attachment, and supporting learning and development The community of relationships – the importance and complexity of developing multiprofessional relationships between babies, their families, and professionals Pedagogical environmental spaces – distinct philosophical and pedagogical approaches that inform being with babies in responsive, play informed ways Routines and rituals – everyday practice and caregiving in different environments with babies, including home-based settings With case studies, practitioner reflections, and key takeaways in every chapter, this is essential reading for early years students and practitioners being with babies and their families within a variety of professional contexts.

Full Product Details

Author:   Amanda Norman ,  Caroline Guard
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
ISBN:  

9781032897233

ISBN 10:   1032897236
Pages:   306
Publication Date:   29 May 2026
Audience:   Adult education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Further / Higher Education ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Not yet available  
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.

Table of Contents

Foreward Introduction Part 1: The Awe and Wonder of Babies and Quality Care 1. Ethics of education and care: supporting baby's learning and development 2. Beyond milestones: thinking, learning and laughing with babies and infants 3. Patterns of communication in infancy- bringing the voice of babies to life in early childhood settings 4. Creating attachments and attunement through symbolic gesturing Part 2: The Community of Relationships 5. Relationships, resilience and recover: trauma informed practice 6. Professional loving relationships with babies 7. Flourishing Relationships and Agency of Voice (Power) 8. Being with Babies: Connecting with parents and Families through a person-centered approach 9. Being with Babies: A social work perspective Part 3: Pedagogical Environmental Spaces: The sues and practices of pedagogical environmental spaces in formal day care 10. Exploring the Montessori Nido Environment: Fostering Optimal Early Childhood Development 11. Freedom to play, freedom to move, freedom to be me: The Pikler approach to autonomous play 12. Being with babies in a Froebelian way 13. Mana Whenua Belonging: Enacting a bicultural curriculum with babies and their families 14. Creating pedagogical spaces for professional reflection Part 4: Routines and Rituals: The issues and practices of routines and rituals in formal day care 15. Effective Settling Systems for babies 16. Creating pedagogical spaces for sensory and sustainable play 17. Rest and Sleep: The value of therapeutic play and transitional objects in supporting rest and sleep 18. ""We're moving out!"": Using action research to navigate the transition to outdoor early years provision for babies and toddlers during Covid-19 and beyond 19. Babies, Voice and Pedagogy in Home Based Childcare Conclusion

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Author Information

Amanda Norman is a Senior Lecturer (Childhood) at the University of Winchester, UK. Caroline Guard is a Researcher, Senior Lecturer, and Consultant who most recently worked at the University of Oxford, UK.

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