Caregiving is part of the curriculum, not something that has to be gotten out of the way to get to the curriculum. Caregiving routines provide opportunities for synchronous interactions, which lead to attachment. Attachment is important in early childhood programs for the security and well-being of the children and to enhance their opportunities for learning. The early childhood curriculum includes four physical-care routines—feeding, toileting, resting, and grooming and dressing. As always, cultural variations enter into the administration of these routines. Two other types of routines are transitions and group times. Transitions are those bridges between one place and another or between two activities. The most emotional transitions and the ones that deserve special consideration from both parents and caregivers are arrival and departure times. Group time is considered as preparation for kindergarten by some, by others it becomes a time for discussion and the presentation of new experiences.
