Preparing practitioners to work with infants, toddlers, and their families: Four essential elements of training

Abstract

The 1988-1990 Training Approaches for Skills and Knowledge Project of the National Center for Clinical Infant Programs identified four elements of training that seem particularly important in helping individuals become competent infant/family practitioners. These are 1) a knowledgebase built on a framework of concepts common to all disciplines concerned with infants, toddlers, and their families; 2) opportunities for direct observation and interaction with a variety of children from newborn to age 3 and their families; 3) individualized supervision that allows the trainee to reflect on all aspects of work with infants, families, and colleagues; and 4) collegial support, both within and across disciplines.