Infants and Toddlers at Work: Using Reggio-Inspired Materials to Support Brain Development

This book contains a wealth of practical and specific activities and materials to use with infants and toddlers to enhance growth and development. Writing in the accessible style that her readers appreciate, Ann Lewin-Benham looks at current research from the neurosciences to show what teachers and childcare providers can do with very young children. For each material or activity presented, the text examines its relation to the rapid brain growth that characterizes the zero to three years, including sensory reception, movement, language, cognition, memory, vision, and motivation. Materials, with guidance for their use and where to find them, include: paint, mark-makers, man-made found objects, natural objects, clay, paper, and light and shadow. This is the definitive guide for trainers and professionals who work with young children.

For information about Ann’s teacher workshops visit her website: AnnLewin-Benham.com.

Ann Lewin-Benham founded and for 20 years directed the Capital Children's Museum in Washington, DC, where she also founded and directed the Model Early Learning Center (MELC).  The MELC was an early type of charter school and ran under contract to the D. C. Public Schools.  The school system certified that all families were eligible for Head Start.  Once certified by the public schools, the MELC accepted children on a first come/first served basis.  Ann's first 2 books tell stories from the MELC.  

Ann lectures frequently and works side-by-side with teachers in classrooms to demonstrate techniques she writes about.