Discusses notable changes occurring in early childhood education and the National Association for Education of Young Children: (1) both are experiencing unprecedented growth; (2) the increased attention from media, politicians, business, researchers, policymakers, and parents has created challenges for both; and (3) there are new leadership…

Compared children in a home-based Head Start Family Child Care Program with those in regular Head Start classrooms over a three-year period. The home-based group received the same comprehensive Head Start services as the classroom group, with a curriculum built around the children, family life, and the culture and geography of Minnesota. Found no…

Provides information for workers in early childhood programs about the needs of disabled mothers. Gives suggestions for accommodating mothers with various disabilities, including physical, psychiatric, sensory, cognitive, or learning disabilities. Explains that some disabilities are "hidden." Describes accessibility needs and lists information…

Provides insight into system-level changes needed to support inclusive preschool activities. Recognizes successful outcomes of inclusive programs as highly dependent on attitudes of parents and teachers. Describes a six-step process in developing successful inclusive programs in a rural Iowa community. Stresses the need for everyone affected to…

Addresses concerns about nurturing positive attitudes in young children toward an ever-increasingly aging population. Discusses five elements of general picture books for young children, and explains characteristics of positive intergenerational relationships as portrayed in popular children's books. Provides an annotated bibliography of 16…

Describes a pilot program designed to strengthen children's transition from preschool programs to kindergarten. Discusses three major components: kindergarten registration drive for parents; a series of parent information nights; and kindergarten school visits over the course of the school year. Offers sample format for an hour-long kindergarten…

Analyzed parents' observations and perceptions of the transition process of their children into kindergarten. Found that even though most parents (two-thirds) reported satisfactory transitions, 47% of responses contained negative features, reflecting difficulties during transition. Parents found ongoing communication, agreed-upon performance…

Explores looping, which involves one teacher staying with the same group of children for more than one year. Recognizes that, with today's changing demographics, looping can be a way to foster a family-like classroom atmosphere. Discusses advantages and disadvantages to looping. Includes a chart of looping opportunities and considerations;…

Describes a preschool teacher's transition from a traditional kindergarten to a multi-age, multi-year (looping) program. Lists common complaints heard from more-traditional teachers receiving children from more-developmentally appropriate classrooms. Explains the importance of using whole language with quality children's books for Spanish-speaking…

Recounts a teacher's experiences staying with the same group of children for more than one year (looping) as they progress through kindergarten and first grade. Discusses advantages of more stability and less trauma for the child, and more instructional time and less stress for the teacher. Addresses possible disadvantages of children having…

Highlights findings and recommendations of research examining public policy in housing, health care, higher education, and transportation, and how these policies can be applied to improve early childhood financing and systems. Stresses goal of universal access for early childhood programs through financial stability in forming business alliances,…

Reviews early education practices that respect families' effects on child development, acknowledges families as decision makers, and supports families' role in educating and caring for children. Discusses three principles for family-centered practice and describes continuing challenges and opportunities suggested in the research findings. Charts…

Visualizes future of early childhood education and care in terms of quality. Advocates quality in things that scaffold programs: quality training, education, and credentialing for staff; efficient, quality regulations that truly protect children and families; quality financing; effective accountability; and functional governance. Contends quality…

This article provides a rationale for the use of choice in home and school environments, advocates for the systematic and careful use of choice as an intervention strategy, provides examples for embedding choice, and discusses guidelines for use and factors that may limit the use of choice. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

This article provides an overview of the family information gathering process in early intervention and the effect of cultural and linguistic diversity on family information gathering. Practical strategies that early intervention providers can use in interviews, surveys, and observations are discussed, as well as implications for personnel…