What does peace mean to and for Infants?
How can we model, teach and support peace for Infants? 

Peace. A baby experiences peace when his needs have been fully met: he has been held, talked to and sung to, hugged and kissed, changed, fed, and settled to sleep.  When we hold a sleeping baby, we too can feel that peace.  

Peace also means that the baby’s schedule is individualized as much as possible, to meet the needs of the baby rather than the needs of the group as a whole. This can be quite challenging in group care and requires creativity and flexibility on the part of teachers. At FCFC, it means that the youngest baby, with permission from the family, often takes a morning nap in the baby carrier or in the stroller. The baby can then sleep when s/he is ready, be outside with the group, and be with his/her primary teacher while the teacher is still available to the group. 

For many infants, peace means quiet, at least at times. For all infants, peace is time alone with a favorite adult. Peace means creating an environment that avoids or soothes crying, but peace also means knowing and accepting that infants will cry. When a baby is inconsolable, teachers continue to comfort them, knowing that the calmer we are about a baby’s crying, the better it is both for the baby and those around him or her.