Elements and Performance Criteria
- Elements define the essential outcomes.
- Promote safe sleep
- Provide positive nappy-changing and toileting experiences
- Promote quality mealtime environments
- Promote positive mealtime environments that are adapted to meet the individual child’s routines and needs
- Ensure babies are fed individually
- Follow approved standards for safe storage and heating of formula and breast milk and for cleaning equipment and utensils
- Assist in providing a supportive environment for mothers to breastfeed
- Prepare formula and other food according to recommended food safety standards
- Create a healthy and safe supporting environment
- Communicate with families daily about the child’s intake and experiences with food and drink
- Ensure safe areas and encouragement is provided for babies to practise rolling over, sitting, crawling and walking
- Supervise closely when babies and toddlers are in situations that present a higher risk of injury
- Ensure babies and toddlers can safely explore their environment with their hands, mouths and bodies
- Keep up-to-date with children’s immunisation status and recommended immunisation schedule
- Develop relationships with babies and toddlers
- Provide predictable personal care routines that are rich and enjoyable
- Respond to babies and toddlers when they practise language by repeating words, sounds and gestures that children use
- Describe objects or events and talk about routine activities with babies and toddlers
- Initiate one-to-one interactions with babies and toddlers during daily routines and add to interactions initiated by babies and toddlers
- Use a favourite toy or comfort item brought from home to assist babies and toddlers
- Provide babies and toddlers with many opportunities to experience relaxed and physical contact
- Respond positively to babies’ and toddlers’ exploratory behaviour
- Closely monitor babies and toddlers for signs of hunger, distress, pain and tiredness, and provide physical comfort as appropriate
- Develop relationships with families