Infant Development Specialist

Description

An Infant Development Specialist establishes a climate of respect for each infant/toddler's individual personality, physical characteristics, traits, temperament, language, and family culture. They support the individual planning and implementation of Catalyst's program for children ranging in age zero to three years old. The Infant Development Specialist moves with their group of children from the time they enter the program until they move to preschool (age 2.9 or up) supporting their development, building strong family relationships, setting the trajectory for future success in the child/families' school success and ensuring continuity of care for the child until they move to preschool.

Catalyst Infant Development Specialists must be able to facilitate a variety of age-appropriate experiences that support children's social-emotional, cognitive, and physical development, and ensure all children are supervised at all times in a healthy and safe environment.

• Create and implement individual developmentally appropriate curriculum and small group experiences that are directly connected to the interests and development of infants/toddlers, supported by learning frameworks and foundations that promote positive wholistic and culturally responsive practices
• Understand the growth and development of infants/toddlers ages zero-three years and meet their needs based on their developmental age
• Keep infant/toddlers healthy and safe by connecting proper supervision, following compliance regulations, positive, empathetic, consistent interactions, healthy habits, and nurturing culturally diverse relationships
• Create, implement and maintain intentional, enriched and supportive learning environments connected to curriculum and quality experiences that are appropriate for all children and allow opportunities for safe risks
• Ensure the environment meets the needs of the developmental age of infant/toddlers as they grow through the first three years of life
• Provide excellent customer service by establishing and maintaining authentic connections and reciprocal, culturally responsive relationships with children, families, communities and center/class team
• Complete a daily report and provide continual evaluation for families detailing the child’s individual progress and developmental milestones
• Work collaboratively with each other connecting workplace values, education and experience to provide the highest quality programs and creative workplaces

All infant Development Specialists are expected to demonstrate behaviors that are essential for successful programs and environment including the following:

• Positive, nurturing, patient, and developmentally appropriate interactions with infants/toddlers
• Maintain kind, respectful, and safe emotional and physical environments for children
• Be on time and present on a regularly scheduled basis
• Be supportive and nurturing in outdoor and indoor programs
• Be physically and mentally capable of interacting with infants/toddlers zero to three meeting all their needs and ensuring their safety
• Be aware of and implement safety guidelines; report any health & safety issues or incidents to management, and remain calm if providing first aid (as needed) during emergency situations

Infant Development Specialists are responsible for various program elements on a daily basis and will routinely be exposed to indoor and outdoor elements. Infant Development Specialists may be required to:

• Visually inspect the environment for hazards to children and implement preventive actions (i.e., set up cones to limit the play area) to maintain a safe environment for children
• Be comfortable with occasional loud noise in or outside the classroom during active/loud activities
• Be comfortable holding, lifting, diapering and nurturing infants and toddlers ages 0-3 years during caregiving routines
• Be comfortable with frequent bending, lifting, twisting, reaching, pushing and pulling
• Push, lift, carry, and hold various objects up to 15 lbs. – by individual or team effort – such as equipment carts, emergency backpacks, food coolers, classroom furnishings,…