Playdates are a regular part of life of many preschool age children, and when a child with disabilities cannot participate in the typical playdates of childhood, they, and their parents, feel isolated and lonely. This article discusses different aspects of running successful playdates for children with autism and other developmental disabilities.…

Positive touch is an application of the ancient practice of infant massage. Positive touch provides families and caregivers with simple and positive ways to touch their child that contribute to the overall goal of providing a nurturing environment that supports the child's growth and development. This article describes infant massage techniques in…

The purpose of this article is to describe what could happen in the classroom when parents and teachers have differing expectations of children's behaviors. It also describes strategies designed to accommodate these differences. Differences in acquiring classroom skills can occur because of differing expectations based on children's individual…

The global appeal of puppets makes them especially appropriate and useful for teaching and learning in inclusive early childhood classrooms where instruction must address the diverse needs of young children across a wide range of abilities (Gronna et al., 1999). Through the use of puppets, teachers (as well as peers) might demonstrate a skill in a…

Family-professional partnerships have been recognized through research and supported through legislation as critical components contributing to the positive development of children with disabilities, yet current practices and services need significant improvement. In practice, families and service providers often experience difficulty in…

A significant challenge in the field of early childhood special education is providing qualified personnel to serve young children with special needs and their families. Though many personnel development programs acknowledge the need for interdisciplinary preparation of diverse students who are culturally competent, faculty and trainees continue…

Because of the pressing needs of young children, families, and communities, public policy advocacy efforts and civic engagement have never been more important. Practitioners in early childhood special education (ECSE) are in a unique position to encourage change on behalf of young children and their families. There are a number of ways in which…

Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) teams are by definition comprised of professionals from a variety of disciplines who are trained to determine recommendations for the services they deliver. Research indicates that when more people are on the IFSP team, families may feel less supported, and diminished child outcomes can result. However,…

Promoting interactions between preschool children is an important topic because peer social interactions provide a crucial context for children's development. However, many young children experience difficulty with peer relations, particularly children with disabilities. Indeed, children with disabilities have problems with peer interactions…

Preservice teachers and current teachers alike face daily challenges that necessitate problem-solving skills. Conducting problem solving as a part of a group of professionals and the child's family can be beneficial because it encourages the offering of many perspectives, which allows for better understanding of the problem context. However, a…

Emergent literacy can be viewed as skills that are precursors to later reading and writing (Sulzby & Teale, 1991) or can be more broadly conceptualized as literacy acquisition that occurs along a developmental continuum. Because children with disabilities, such as visual impairments, can be at risk for later reading difficulties, it is critical…

Notes that children are scientists at play, positing theories and making observations about their activities. Suggests that successful early childhood science programs include open-ended, free-choice activities; a wide array of equipment; safe supervision; spontaneity; a variety of discovery locations; helpful print resources; and community…

Notes that children from birth to age 6 learn best through their senses and gain understanding when involved in activities that bring them into direct contact with the natural world. Suggests that the challenge for early childhood educators is to encourage students to use all of their senses and provide them with excursions outdoors to build…

Explains the role of child care health consultants and suggests whom to contact for health consultant services. Notes that professional child care health consultants should be knowledgeable of pediatric care, child development, injury prevention screening, and state licensing guidelines. Suggests that consultants can provide on-site visits, assist…

Notes that songs can bridge generations, draw students and teachers together, and remain forever in a child's memory. Suggests the following approaches for early childhood educators: sing with children, share favorite songs with students, allow students to sing and share their favorite songs, and do not focus on students' musical memory. (LBT)