Principle 8 Recognize problems as learning opportunities, and let infants and toddlers try to solve their own. Don't rescue them, constantly make life easy for them, or try to protect them from all problems.

Jasmine rides down the path in the play yard on a tot-sized tricycle, pushing with her feet on the ground instead of using the pedals. She runs off the edge of the concrete walk, and the bike tips over, spilling her into the sand. She lets out a lusty yell and lies on her back with the bike on its side next to her. A caregiver arrives in a hurry and crouches down next to Jasmine but doesn't touch her. She looks into her face and asks, "Are you okay?" Jasmine cries louder. The caregiver says, "You fell down." Jasmine stops crying and looks at her and nods. "You went right off the edge." Jasmine nods again. She starts to roll over on her side. Her caregiver offers a hand to help her. She refuses it and gets up, brushing herself off. The caregiver looks her over carefully and sees no scrapes or red marks, but says again, "Are you okay?" "Okay," Jasmine responds. She reaches for the bike handle. The caregiver gets out of her way. She struggles a little but persists until she rights the bike. The caregiver doesn't help. The caregiver says, "You did that all by yourself." Jasmine grins and pulls the bike back to the cement. She has a broad smile on her face as she rides off.

1			Do you see this as an example of infant education? Explain your view.
2			What if the parent had watched this and become uncomfortable that the caregiver was so standoffish? What might you have said to the parent if you had been the caregiver?
3			Why might the parent have been uncomfortable?
4			Do you have a different idea about how the caregiver should have handled this situation?
5			What would you have done and why?
6			Is this a problem you would try to prevent if you were the caregiver? If yes, how? If no, why not?