The first role is to establish a relationship with the toddler; this relationship should be respectful, loving, and supportive. Toddlers choose their preferred adult in the community and we should respect this choice. 

This adult offers help when a child needs help but does not intervene when a child is “working things out” on their own. The adult should step in if a child is hurting others, himself/herself or the environment, but in a clear, protective manner as opposed to being punitive.

This adult is a second role model for language, whether it is the same language the teacher speaks or a different language. If it is a different language, this become an added benefit as the child is then exposed to and can absorb more than one language. As a part of the language environment, this adult can be showing how to do a three-period lesson with the class language materials. As toddlers are in their prime period for absorbing vocabulary, there can never be too many language lessons going on.

This adult should also be trained in observation and there can be a small journal where both the teacher and the assistant can make daily entries on the work/behaviour of children.