Based on the view that the young child offers an entry point for broader social development, this programming guide engages parents and decision makers in constructive social planning and participation as they develop early childhood care for development (ECCD) programs to improve the care and conditions for children in developing countries. The book, plus the accompanying CD-ROM, provides an in-depth discussion of the preparation, planning, implementation, financing, monitoring, and evaluation of diverse ECCD programming strategies. The book is presented in seven sections: (1) "Setting the Stage: The Basics of Early Childhood Care for Development," defining ECCD, describing childhood needs and child development principles, and discussing early childhood programming principles; (2) "Needs Assessment," presenting steps to conduct a needs assessment; (3) "Setting Project Goals and Objectives," providing examples of goals and objectives and information on defining the population to be served; (4) "Making a Choice about Approach: A Menu of Options," detailing extensive program options and providing examples from programs worldwide; (5) "Putting the Pieces in Place: Creating the Infrastructure," providing guidance on program content, service delivery options, staffing, and support; (6) "Evaluation," including discussion of types of evaluation, developing a plan, identifying appropriate indicators, special issues in cross-cultural research, and developing a conceptual framework; and (7) "Costs and Financing," providing guidance on estimating program costs, creating a budget, costing and financing a program, and maximizing resources and program impact. The book concludes with a glossary of relevant terms. The CD-ROM presents programming resources for early childhood care and development programs. (KB)