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Development
The Crucial Early Years
Parents and professionals who work with very young children
and their families have a challenging and exciting task. Research from all areas of child
development illustrate unquestionably the special significance of the very early years.
The children who are the healthiest and most successful later in life are the children
whose development is supported from birth. With professional training and education,
parents and those who work with young children can capitalize on this opportunity during
the first three years of life.
Partnership
A Partnership with the Community
The Irving B. Harris Training Center for Infant and Toddler
Development is an educational non-profit center dedicated to the training and continuing
education of individuals working in the field of infant and toddler development. Housed at
the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota, the Harris Center is a
University/community partnership with a twofold mission: to serve as an information
resource for the University and to maximize the ability of professionals and organizations
to better serve infant and toddler populations.
Grounded in Theory:
Dedicated to Training and Continuing Professional Development
Providing Cutting-Edge Training and Information
The Irving B. Harris Training Center for Infant and Toddler
Development supports numerous projects designed to help parents and childcare
professionals maximize learning healthy development during those crucial first three
years. They include:
- Short-term training modules and workshops for community professionals
who work with young children
- Public forums for policy makers and the public focusing on cutting-edge
issues in infant and toddler development
- "Questions about Kids," fact sheets that focus on infant and
toddler development issues for professionals, parents, and policy makers
- a clearinghouse of research, curricular, and intervention materials
available through the Internet
- conferences on relevant child development topics in collaboration with
the University's Center for Early Education and Development (CEED)
- innovative, multi-disciplinary leadership training programs for
professionals, graduates students and undergraduates to enrich their knowledge and
experiences with infants and toddlers
A Mission
Philosophical Beliefs
Promoting infant and toddler mental health is central to
healthy child development. We at the Harris Programs believe that both prevention and
intervention are crucial when working with infants and toddlers and their families. Our
goal is to provide accessible information and training that helps parents and other
caregivers to create effective, responsible, and caring environments for young children.
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