Identifies emerging issues and challenges facing lab schools nationwide as they attempt to build support for their programs. Offers recommendations for strengthening the roles lab programs play in the early childhood field, such as expecting staff to be involved in leadership activities (like outside workshops) and making facilities attractive to…

Discusses the importance of supporting young children's socialization process from the perspective of a teacher educator/researcher, a parent, and a caregiver. Describes four stages of socialization (using physical aggression, asking for help, using words, and problem solving) and offers recommendations for corresponding spacial needs, play…

Explores family-style meal service as a means to building autonomy and healthy eating behaviors in young children. Discusses the development of food preferences, age-related developmental responses to food, and the importance of socially mediated exposure to food as a way to increased food acceptance. Presents guidelines for implementing…

Describes picture books that contain environmental print (print found in the natural environment of a child, such as logos, billboards, and road signs) and how they can be used in the classroom. Includes "ABC Drive!" by Naomi Howland (1994), "The Signmaker's Assistant" by Tedd Arnold (1992), and four others. Also provides a bibliography of other…

Identifies major issues involved in the use of computers with young children, such as developmental appropriateness, computer labs versus integration within classroom curriculum, teacher and parent training, and equity of access. Argues that computers have a major, positive impact on young children when used as part of individualized, integrated…

Examined attitudes of 71 kindergarten and first-grade children regarding the capabilities of disabled children and the potential for friendship, and assessed the effectiveness of children's literature and related activities in influencing attitudes toward the disabled. Found that children's attitudes were generally positive and realistic, and that…

A 1994 survey of the informal Environmental Education for Preschoolers network obtained demographic information about participants as well as opinions on the current state and future direction of early childhood environmental education (ECEE) and the network. Results indicated a diversity in participants' backgrounds and a strong interest in an…

The second of a four-part series on the development of infants and toddlers, this article reviews current research on social and emotional development during the first two years and provides a selected list of activities designed to promote infants' optimal development. Attachment behavior and affective behavior are two major topics explored. (EV)

Discusses results of a survey of preschool teachers, children, and their parents about young children's understanding of parents' employment. Reveals that many children don't know what their parents do at work despite teacher and parent belief in the importance of this knowledge. Offers suggestions on classroom projects and children's books…

Describes an encounter with children in an at-risk preschool program. Concludes from this experience that one of the most significant lessons children begin to learn at this early age is about their potential as human beings. Suggests that in this context, early childhood educators have a responsibility to encourage the full development of all…

Summarizes information on possible infertility treatments and discusses the needs they create and the issues they raise for children and parents. Offers ideas on what early childhood caregivers and educators can do to help families who are engaging in these treatments. (JW)

Summarizes three studies on the effects of physical environment on preschool children's play and cognitive development, and discusses implications for classroom design. Notes that size of play area, and the extent to which the size of structures in that area was proportional to children's size, affected the rate at which children entered complex…

Discusses issues that might be presented in an inservice for teachers of students who have AIDS or who are HIV-positive. Covers prevalence and characteristics of problem, some universal precautions, and classroom accommodation and management. (JW)

Notes that quality child care is judged on a variety of levels, the most significant of which might be caregiver attributes. Discusses three such attributes: respect for and commitment to children, ability to relate to parents, and human relations skills. (JW)

Notes that with safe and developmentally appropriate equipment, outdoor play can be a significant part of high-quality early child care. Highlights 10 suggestions for safe outdoor play. Knowledgeable teachers and appropriate child-caregiver ratio are needed for safe play. (JW)