Reviews computer software that meets the interests and needs of young children and teaches powerful ideas. The evaluations are based on field tests and the following criteria: age appropriateness, child control, clear instructions, expanding complexity, independence, nonviolence, process orientation; real-world model, technical features, and…

Notes that as more young children with disabilities are included in classrooms for children who are developing typically, practitioners must continue to identify and refine strategies for making inclusion successful. Discusses a successful inclusion program that is observation based and child initiated. Discusses a procedure that facilitates the…

Author of the landmark work "Baby and Child Care," Benjamin Spock changed how parents and indirectly professional caregivers raise children. Spock believed all infants are inherently good and discipline is mistakenly identified with punishment. He felt quality child care was essential to successful development and play for infants and children is…

Readiness to learn is a constant state. Two critical aspects of early childhood provide parents sufficient understanding of their child's development: attachment and brain development. Children develop attachments to caregivers but need consistent parental care and love. Human brains continue to quickly grow during the first two years of life.…

Observes that the major challenge teachers confront is resisting the urge to be a "know-it-all," to dispense facile answers, to stop the inquiry. Concludes that only after surmounting the fear of being without an answer and after a conscious decision is made to listen thoughtfully can real learning begin. (SD)

Quality child care is related to the number of adequately prepared practitioners. Unfortunately, workers subsidize the cost of quality by working for substandard wages, few benefits, and little recognition. The need for adequate compensation is the most critical issue facing the profession, and the cost should be shared by all members of society.…

Describes the Spectrum Project in a Lebanese kindergarten, the goal of which was to determine whether, through assessment of activities, a profile of children's abilities, strengths, and weaknesses could be identified, and to investigate the relationship between the different intelligences. Implications and recommendations for future research are…

Examines a song spontaneously created by a 44-month old. Finds that the relationship of the structure and functions of the song demonstrated the variation of egocentric speech connected to the child's thinking. Concludes that observation of form and content of such language use can provide information about language development, sense of self, and…

Cooking provides a wealth of multisensory experiences for toddlers and 2-year olds. Carefully planned and developmentally appropriate cooking projects can provide young children the opportunity of experiencing the rewards of cooking such as a sense of accomplishment, joy, and excitement and can boost self-esteem. (Author)

Argues that inclusion of children with disabilities into various preschool settings presents opportunities for early childhood educators to address issues of differences through the use of effective tools and teaching strategies. Suggests that a journal-type portfolio is a tool early-childhood educators can use to enhance the acceptance of…

Second in a two-part series, this article reports the findings of a long-term study of teen parents after graduation from high school. The study examined marital status, financial status, educational aspirations, and parenting attitudes. Concludes that the factor most important to outcomes is to support and strengthen the families of parenting…

Describes a course that linked first-grade students using emergent writing skills with university early-childhood majors studying the process of emergent literacy, and, in so doing provided an authentic and meaningful learning context for both groups. Suggests that the pen-pal project demonstrates the value of interactive writing exchanges.…

Describes how a group of Extension educators developed, implemented and evaluated a child-care-provider training program that considered provider needs, research-based competencies, and current recommendations for child-care training opportunities. Presents information concerning program focus, program content, program evaluation, and two methods…

Presents methods for implementing a home-learning activity program that meets the needs of parents and teachers, and most important, children. Addresses issues of implementation, specific activities and strategies, areas of concern, and applications for classroom teachers. Stresses alternatives to worksheets and the importance of family…

Describes rationale and first-week-of-school activities of a project to implement multi-age classrooms composed of kindergarten, first, and second grade students who spend 3 years in that classroom. Notes that the project's goal is to empower children as learners by allowing them to help design the curriculum and set goals for their own learning.…