July 5, 2024 with Carla Ward and Sophie Rayner-Grignon
X
Infant and Early Mental Health Care
Educators understand that the period from 0 to 6 years old is crucial for a child’s development. This time frame is characterized by rapid growth and significant milestones in cognitive, emotional, and social development. However, despite this understanding, infants—those in the earliest stages of this developmental window—are often overlooked when it comes to professional development for educators, program planning, and prioritization of resources.
In today’s episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, host Carla Ward sits down with Sophie Rayner-Grignon from The ECE (The Early Childhood Coach) to delve into the importance of focusing on infant learning and early mental health care. The discussion sheds light on the unique needs of infants and emphasizes the necessity of integrating specialized training and program strategies that cater to this age group. Sophie Rayner-Grignon shares valuable insights on how early childhood educators (ECEs) can better support the youngest learners and foster environments conducive to their mental health and overall development.
The conversation is both enlightening and essential, making it a must-listen for all ECEs who aim to enhance their understanding and practices around infant care.
Sophie Rayner-Grignon
Sophie (She/They) is a queer, heavily tattooed, and creative educator living on the Unceded Territory of the Algonquin Peoples in Ottawa, ON. After starting in babysitting and volunteering in a special needs program in Japan, Sophie pursued Early Childhood Education at Algonquin College, graduating with Honours in 2014. She has since worked as a Registered Early Childhood Educator, primarily with young parents and their infants and toddlers in non-profit, subsidized child care. Now an Early Literacy and Parenting Educator, Sophie combines her passions for parenting, play, diverse books, and early learning.