FLORIDA DEPARTMENT

OF
CHILDREN & FAMILIES

OFFICE OF CHILD CARE REGULATION

STUDY GUIDE FOR

Infant and Toddler Appropriate

Practices

Revised: 07/01/2019
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) would like to extend congratulations on your
recent completion of its course, Infant and Toddler Appropriate Practices. DCF hopes that you
enjoyed the experience and are ready to apply your new skills in the workplace.

Now that you have completed Infant and Toddler Appropriate Practices, please consider
registering for other DCF courses.

For more information on training and licensing requirements, please visit the Department of
Children and Families’ Web site at https://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/child-care/.

How to use this study guide

This study guide will assist you in preparing for DCF’s Infant and Toddler Appropriate Practices
CEU Assessment and competency exam. This study guide will help you focus your studies.
However, it does not contain the specific questions and answers you will see on the assessment.
Use this study guide, the key points, and course objectives to assist you in preparing for your CEU
Assessment and competency exam.

Infant and Toddler Appropriate Practices

Study Guide
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 5 Tips to Help Your Get the Most from Your Study Time

#1
Budget your time.
Make sure you have time to study and review
your work both during the course and before the test.

#2
Set aside time immediately after class to start your review.
This is the best time to review your notes and identify if you have any questions. If you do have
questions, this will give you time to ask your trainer or do other research on your questions. The
night before the test there is no time for
this step.

#3
Review all material again before the test.
Organize all of your class notes and other material you may have received during the course
sessions. Pay specific attention to your participant’s guide.

#4
Create your own study guide.
Organize your notes into key ideas and other information you want to remember on one sheet of
paper. If you need more than one sheet, that’s all right, but try to keep the ideas organized, brief
and to the point.

#5
Space out your studying.
You will learn more if you study a little each day rather than trying to “cram” all the information
into your head the night before the test. Studying a little each day will help the material stay in
your long-term memory.

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 10 Tips for Success on your Competency Exam
#1
Take care of your personal needs.
Make sure you get a good night’s sleep the night before the test. Eat breakfast – do not take the
test hungry. Make sure you leave enough time to take care of all your personal needs before the
test, so you can concentrate on the test.
#2
Be well-prepared.
Being well-prepared, rested and arriving early will reduce anxiety.
Bring at least two #2 pencils, a photo ID and letter.
#3
Listen carefully, read the instructions and ask questions if you
don’t understand.
It is important to listen carefully to the directions you are given. Read the instructions carefully
and when necessary ask questions if you do not understand them.
#4
Read through the entire test.
Read through the entire test first to get a feel for the test. Pay attention to how it is structured and
how the questions are written.
#5
Tips for Multiple Choice Questions
Read the question first.
Eliminate answers you know are not correct.
If you do not know an answer, try to guess.
#6
Do the easy questions first.
Do the easy questions first and then go on to harder questions or questions that require additional
thought. This strategy will help ensure you get all the questions you know the answers to
completed before you go on to other questions. This strategy also helps build your confidence.
#7
Problem with a question – skip it!
If you have a problem with a question, skip it and come back to it later.
Just as you worked on the “easy” questions first, it is important that you not get “stuck” on one
question and that you use your time answering questions you can.
#8
Read all options
Be sure that you read all of your choices before selecting an answer.
#9
Stay Focused
Don’t let your mind wander or worry about other students who may be completing the test before
you do. Stay focused and work on one question at a time.
#10
Before you turn in your test
Make sure you have answered all the questions.
Double check!
Infant and Toddler Appropriate Practices
Study Guide
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This is an example of the Scantron sheet that you will use when take the test for this courses.

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 Module 1: Introduction

Read the section titled, “Who are Infants and Toddlers?” and answer the following questions:

1. Infants and toddlers are completely dependent on caregivers to make sure their
and needs are met.
2. At this stage the primary concern for infants is secure attachments formed through close
relationships with parents and caregivers who make them feel and .
3. Toddlers seek to gain and through more purposeful
exploration.

From the video shown during training, “Flexible, Fearful, Feisty,” write a brief description of
each type of personality.

Flexible:

Fearful:

Feisty:

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 Module 2: Learning and Development Theories and Stage for Infants and Toddlers

Read through your notes from the section titled, “Jean Piaget: The Sensorimotor Stage of
Cognitive Development” identify Piaget’s theory and briefly describe it.

From the section titled, “Erik Erikson: Two Conflicts in Emotional Development” describe the
two conflicts that apply to infants and toddlers and describe how a caregiver provides support
while overcoming these conflicts.

Stage 1: Trust vs. Mistrust

Stage 2: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

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Read the section titled, “Developmental Domains for Infants and Toddlers,” and use the
information to determine whether the following statements are True or False:

Physical Development

Statement True or False

An infant’s body weight will typically double in the first six months after they
are born.
An infant’s body weight will typically quadruple by their 1st birthday.
Infants can grow 5 inches in length in the first 6 months after they are born.
Toddlers are typically afraid of or uninterested in exploring their
environment.
Toddlers will typically begin to feed themselves and drink from a cup.

Approaches to Learning

Statement True or False

A child’s curiosity and natural ability to develop new skills should be the
teachers’ main focus when they are planning learning activities.
Children should be constantly praised for their efforts and results in all
activities throughout the day, even if they are uninterested or unsuccessful.
Using rewards such as toys and prizes is a good way to encourage positive
behavior.
As a caregiver you should encourage children to enjoy learning experiences
while also encouraging them to please you with their behavior.

Social and Emotional Development

Statement True or False

Some infants engage in an early form of communication by taking turns
cooing back and forth.
By smiling and cooing, a baby is saying through body language, “I want to
interact with you.”
Between 8 and 18 months of age, children will begin to initiate simple games.
Between 18 and 24 months of age, children begin to recognize their own
name and use words to get their needs met.
Between 24 and 36 months of age, children are largely self supporting and
need less attention from caregivers.

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Language and Literacy

Statement True or False

Body language is a baby’s first form of communication.
Older infants typically recognize more words than they can speak.
The development of written language skills begins in infants and continues to
blossom during the school-age years.
Toddlers are beginning to master writing skills such as grasping and holding
on to writing utensils such as crayons and markers.
Since toddlers will begin to write during the kindergarten years, it is
important to focus on spoken language rather than writing skills.

Mathematical Thinking

Statement True or False

Infants and toddlers are not interested in numbers and mathematical concepts.
Children 2 to 3 years can count items with assistance.
Children 8 to 18 months can show on their hand how old they are.

Children begin developing mathematical understanding from the first few

months of their lives.

Scientific Inquiry

Statement True or False

Infants and toddlers are naturally curious and desire to investigate their
immediate environments.
Infants and toddlers can’t learn much through their senses and reflexes until
they are older.
Children 2 to 3 years play with natural materials such as sand, water, leaves,
etc.
Children 8 to 18 months experiment with stacking blocks.

Social Studies

Statement True or False

Social Studies refers to children’s base social understanding beginning with
the people in their immediate environment.
Children 8 to 18 months respond with smiles to loved ones.
Children 2 to 3 years old like trying things on their own.
Children 18 to 24 months participate in family rituals.

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Creative Expression Through the Arts

Statement True or False

Children birth to 8 months move their bodies to music with some intent and
control.
Children 8 to 18 months begin using a variety of paint brushes on an easel.
Children 18 to 24 months like to repeat the same song over and over.

Creative Expression Through the Arts is not as important for development as

the other domains.

Read the section titled, “Developmental Alerts,” and write an example of how a child may
exhibit delays at each age group.

One-month-old infant:

Four-month-old infant:

Eight-month-old infant:

Twelve-month-old infant:

Eighteen-month-old infant:

Thirty-month-old infant:

Thirty-six-month-old infant:
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 Module 3: Enhanced Development and Learning

Read the section titled, “Description and Reasons for Play,” and then answer the following
questions.

1. Why do children play?

2. What kind of skills can children develop through play?

3. Which of Piaget’s stages of play apply to infants and toddlers?

4. Describe what each stage of play looks like.

Read the section titled, “Encouraging Learning Through Play,” and use the information to
determine whether the following statements are True or False:

Play activities for infants:

Statement True or False

The main goal of play activities with infants is to provide a pleasurable
experience for the infant.
Providing auditory experiences for infants, such as musical toys and mobiles,
encourages children to listen to the sounds in their environment.
Using toys that grab an infant’s attention helps then to learn to focus their
eyes on objects in their environment.
Holding soft books and turning the pages is fun for infants, but does not help
them learn to read.
Play activities with infants should stimulate at least one of their five senses.

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Play activities for toddlers

Statement True or False

Finger painting and easel painting encourage the development of motor skills
and coordination.
Activities that require standing, jumping, dancing and marching are
distracting because children become excited and distracted.
Water tables and sand boxes create a tactile sensory experience.
Unstructured outside activities allow children to release extra energy, but
offer no developmental benefits.
Playground toys are appropriate for children of all ages, toys designed
specifically for an age group are unnecessary.

Use the section titled, “Curriculum,” to fill in the blanks in the following statements.

1. Art activities should be designed as an experience to promote and develop _

, not to produce a specific picture such as a cute yellow duck.
2. Design curriculum that is geared toward motivating children to develop necessary skills in the
_, _ and _ realms.
3. Curriculum should be designed so that it is based on _ , _________________ and
_ .

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 Module 4: Quality Care Environments

From the section titled, “Learning Environments,” describe the aspects of each of the following
elements of an appropriate learning environment.

Appropriately sized furniture for infants and toddlers:

Good lighting:

Comfortable temperature:

Soothing decorations and artwork:

Now, describe the problems that a caregiver might encounter because of the unwanted elements
listed in your participant’s guide.

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Read the section titled, “Learning Centers,” and answer the following questions.

For children age birth – 12 months

1. What is the purpose of the parent area?

2. Describe and appropriately designed play area for infants.

3. What kinds of items are in the language area? Can you think of any items in the language
area at your program that are not listed in your participant’s guide?

4. Describe an appropriately designed feeding area for infants. Include the types of items and
furniture that should be found in a feeding area.

5. What items should be kept in the diapering area? Why?

For children age 12 – 36 months

1. Describe an appropriately designed library/book center. What items and furniture are located
there?

2. What is the purpose of a discovery/sensory/science center? What kinds of things are

available to children in this center?

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3. The manipulatives/tables toys center encourages children to use their hands. What types of
items are kept in this center to accomplish this goal.

4. What is a dramatic play/home living center used for? What items are found there?

5. Describe an appropriately designed block/construction center.

6. An art/creative expression center is used to encourage children to express themselves. What

items can be used to achieve this goal?

7. What kinds of items are typically found in a music/movement center?

From the section titled, “Room Arrangement,” describe the key elements of an appropriate room
arrangement for infants and toddlers.

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From the section titled, “Infant and Toddler Playground Design,” describe some outdoor
activities that you use in your program, or write down some ideas for activities that you can use
outdoors with infants and toddlers.

Read the section titled, “Safety,” and then explain the importance of each of the key elements of
a safe learning environment.

Age Appropriate Equipment and Materials:

Equipment and Materials should be in Good Repair:

Constant Supervision:

Cleaning Supplies and Chemicals:

Medication:

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 Pools/Drowning:

Child Safety Door Locks:

Read the section titled, “Daily Routines,” and use the information to determine whether the
following statements are True or False:

Statement True or False

The daily routine is a list of chores that you must accomplish every day.
Activities listed on a daily routine do not need to be carried out in a particular
order.
Children respond positively to a daily routine that is predictable and
consistent.
Pictures depicting each activity help toddlers to understand the daily
schedule.
A transition happens each time one activity ends and another begins.

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 Module 5: Positive Guidance Strategies

Read the section titled, “Prohibited Disciplinary Practices,” and record the three practices that
are prohibited by Florida Statute.

From the section titled, “Positive Guidance Strategies,” describe a strategy for addressing each of
the behaviors identified in your participant’s guide.

Temper Tantrums

Refusing to Share

Biting

Saying “NO!”

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Throwing Objects

Placing Foreign Objects in the Mouth

Hitting, Kicking and Hair Pulling

Read the section titled, “Be a Role Model,” and describe how you are a role model in your
program. What methods and techniques do you use to ensure that you are setting a good example
for the children in your care?

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 Module 6: Positive Child/Caregiver Relationship

The section titled, “What Happens When Positive Relationships are not established with
Children?” describes the negative effects of children who are not nurtured during their early
years. To contrast these negative outcomes, describe some examples of the positive effects of
child/caregiver relationships that you have seen in your program.

Read the section titled, “Building Safety, Security and Confidence through Predictability,” and
answer the following questions.

What happens when a stable and predictable is established for a young child?

Why should young children, especially infants, have a schedule that is designed specifically for
them?

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What information can you get from parents to help provide the best care for their child? What
kind of information can you give to parents that will benefit them at home?

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