Noting that the curriculum in early childhood education is dramatically different from that at other levels of education, this volume seeks to clarify some of the issues related to early childhood curriculum development and its bases in both personal knowledge and knowledge from the different disciplines to achieve a "balanced curriculum." Following an introduction to the volume, the chapters are as follows: (1) "Influences on Early Childhood Curriculum Development" (Bernard Spodek and Olivia N. Saracho); (2) "Sociable Thinking: Cognitive Development in Early Childhood Education" (Kelvin Seifert); (3) "Developmental Play Theories and Children's Social Pretend Play" (Olivia N. Saracho); (4) "Effective Early Childhood Curriculum for Children At Risk" (Barbara A. Wasik, Mary Alice Bond, and Annemarie Hindman); (5) "Addressing Linguistic and Cultural Diversity in Early Childhood: From Equity to Excellence, from 'Raices' to 'Alas'" (Eugene E. Garcia); (6) "Young Children's Literacy Development" (Olivia N. Saracho); (7) "Developments in Young Children's Mathematical Reasoning" (Joe Becker and Daniel Miltner); (8) "Early Childhood Social Studies" (Thomas D. Weible and Ann J. Dromsky); (9) "Learning and Teaching with Computers in Early Childhood Education" (Julie Sarama and Douglas H. Clements); (10) "Strengthening the Role of Curriculum in Child Care" (Douglas R. Powell and Gary E. Bingham); (11) "What Counts in Early Learning?" (Tony Bertram and Christine Pascal); and (12) "New Directions in Curriculum Development" (Bernard Spodek and Olivia N. Saracho). Each of the chapters contains references. (HTH)