Compares six publications circulated by the National Association for the Education of Young Children concerning their views on what constitutes good care for young children and how this care can be ensured. (HOD)

Lists five fundamentals for early childhood education: (1) each child is unique, (2) each child has a range of differences within, (3) learning that lasts is embedded in meaningful experiences, (4) a good teacher gets to know each child and is knowledgeable about a child's needs, and (5) parents and teachers need to work cooperatively. (HOD)

Reviews findings of selected studies on the effects of different types of preschopl programs and teaching practices on children. (HOD)

Surveys some of the issues and practices of state-funded prekindergarten programs. (HOD)

Explores recurring themes in early childhood education that strengthen professional identity and commitment. Historical issues of continuing relevance are discussed, including school entrance age, kindergarten and early reading, child care services as social change agents, increase of child care services due to the changing role of women, and…

Traces the history of longitudinal research on effects of Head Start since the 1960s and assesses its impact on government financial support and public policy. Findings of the Westinghouse Report and of the Consortium for Longitudinal Studies on early intervention programs are reported. (DT)

Reviews current research on the individual temperament of young children and recommends strategies to understand and build upon children's personality strengths. Discusses the influence of adult perceptions and misperceptions on children's personality development. (DT)

Discusses one teacher's method for encouraging young children's literacy developemnt. Offers practical suggestions for involving parents in stimulating their child's early reading and writing skills. (DT)

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) President reports on the primary issues discussed at two conferences held in April, 1985--the NAEYC leaders' conference in Washington, D.C. and the Midwest AEYC Annual Conference in Des Moines, Iowa. Pinpoints current key issues and legislation for NAEYC and encourages commitment to…

Argues that terms like "self care" and "survival skills" may make working parents feel better about having to work, but are linguistic cop-outs that obscure a serious and widespread evasion of social responsibility. (DT)

Identifies why children talk to themselves (private speech) and the crucial role that such speech plays in their cognitive development. Reviews research in children's egocentric or private speech development and suggests ways for adults to encourage private speech in learning environments. (DT)

Explains the process whereby the Valley of the Sun Association for the Education of Young Children developed the Early Childhood Network in Phoenix, Arizona and describes the resulting successes with increased communication among members. (DT)

Describes children's process of constructing their own knowledge by going through one level after another of being "wrong" and relates this process to reading. Describes six strategies children invent and discusses implications for teaching. (AS)

Changing transportation policies, involving parents, and working with children and community leaders are methods that early childhood educators can use to increase the transportation safety of the children in their programs. Included is an annotated bibliography on preschool child transportation safety. (AS)

Justifies including dinosaurs as a topic in the curriculum for young children if approached from the inquiry processes of science exploration. Suggests that this topic encourages observational, classification, and communication skills and the ability to compare, hypothesize, and derive conclusions. (AS)