Continuity of Care: Six Essential Program Practices

High-quality relationship-based care is central to optimal early brain development, emotional regulation, and learning (Center on the Developing Child, 2012). One of the Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC) essential program practices to promote this type of care is continuity of care (PITC, n.d.). Continuity of care practices support the development of secure attachments and strong positive relationships as well as a secure base for exploration and learning (Honig, 2002). Research shows that attachment security significantly contributes to children’s long-range social-emotional development and self-confidence (Sroufe, Egeland, Carlson & Collins, 2005)