Why Do They Do That? Infants, Toddlers and Intentionality
Presenter: Linda Brault
March 7, 2017
The first webinar in the series will explore how young children communicate through their behavior and how this communication usually works well when adults interpret the child’s behavior from the child’s perspective and intention. Webinar participants will engage in reflection about what happens when the adults assign deeper or even “adult” intention to the child’s behavior, or interpret developmental exploration as intentional “testing” of the adult. The group will explore and generate new ideas for answering the questions: “Why do they do that?” How do we get into the mind of the child? What can we do to change our mindset?
- Powerpoint Presentation (PDF)
- Handout: Reading Your Child’s Cues from Birth to Age 2 (PDF)
- Handout: Make the Most of Playtime (PDF)
Linda Brault directs the Beginning Together: Caring for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities and Special Needs in Inclusive Settings project and the California Map to Inclusive Child Care project within WestEd's Center for Child and Family Studies. In addition, Brault oversees the California Collaborative on the Social Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CA CSEFEL) Teaching Pyramid Approach and works with several other projects within WestEd.
Prior to joining WestEd in 2007, Brault worked as a faculty member with PITC, while directing CDE projects for Sonoma State University. She also has been an instructor in child development at Mira Costa and Palomar community colleges and was an early childhood special education teacher for more than 18 years.
Brault has held board positions in several professional California and national organizations and has published several books on the topic of Best Practice for Children with Disabilities and Other Special Needs in Early Childhood Settings. She received an MA in special education from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and holds an early intervention graduate certificate from San Diego State University.