Children that participate in early childhood education (ECE) experience improvements in academic, social, and life outcomes. However, since Latinx children continue to be enrolled in ECE at lower rates and face many barriers to entry, the true benefit to Latinx individuals is unknown. The current qualitative study utilizes focus groups (and an…

While the importance of secure relationships between children and caregivers has been well established in the literature as an essential feature of healthy child development, the influence of animal-human relationships on healthy development and attachment is also beginning to gain attention. A burgeoning literature supports the developmental and…

Literacy is the foundation of education and supporting young children's early literacy opportunities prepares them for a variety of learning experiences, both in traditional and non-traditional settings. Reading to shelter dogs in non-traditional settings may offer a space that is judgement-free and inviting for the development of motivation and…

Primary school (i.e., Kindergarten to Grade 3) educators typically support students' social and emotional learning (SEL) through targeted lessons delivered in the classroom; however, integrating SEL strategies into other subject areas both within and outside the classroom context can expand their ability to support students' SEL. Research suggests…

Mindfulness can be incorporated into the early care and education setting as a mechanism to change a person's relationship with stressors and increase early childhood professionals' (ECPs) abilities to be present, aware, and more joyful with the children in their care. Mindfulness may serve as an important coping resource that can promote…

Risky play is defined as thrilling and challenging forms of play that have the potential for physical injury and has been linked to developmental and health benefits for children in the early years. Currently, in Western contexts, children's opportunities for risky play is decreasing. Social factors such as practitioner and parental attitudes and…

In-person safety programs for pre-kindergarten children were not able to go on in their usual way during the summer of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While some communities opted to cancel the programs, one organization in Northwest Ohio chose to reformat it, knowing that this education is a critical introduction to lifelong safety habits.…

The research literature well establishes that adverse conditions, such as poverty, can affect children's cognitive development and academic achievement. Educators are challenged to translate these understandings into instructional practices grounded in research that best meet the needs of students, especially students living in poverty who are at…

This article reports findings from a two-year independent evaluation of the "Little Scientists" program; a program providing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professional development for early childhood educators across Australia. This article reports on the qualitative data gathered with educators to illustrate…

Early childhood care and education providers provide instruction to diverse learners, including children with developmental delays, but often lack training in the use of evidence-based instructional strategies to support children's meaningful learning engagement. This preliminary study examined effects of the Early Achievements for Child Care…

Although teacher-child interaction has been recognized as an important indicator of quality in early care and education as well as a crucial predictor of children's development, limited studies have explored the pathways of teachers' job-related stress to interaction with young children. This study aimed to investigate the sequential mediating…

Attendance at high-quality early childhood education and care services can have positive impacts on children's learning and development, particularly for disadvantaged children. Aboriginal children in the Northern Territory are among the most disadvantaged in Australia and stand to benefit in the short- and long-term from attending high-quality…

Engaging parents in their children's education beginning in early childhood leads to improved academic and social outcomes for children (Brannon and Dauksas in PRISM: A Journal of Regional Engagement 1:94-105, 2012). In the field of early childhood special education (ECSE), teachers are likely to have frequent contact with diverse families, as the…

Read-alouds are a frequent practice in early childhood classrooms and provide great potential for developing literacy skills for young learners including vocabulary, comprehension, text structure awareness, visual literacy, and fluency. Yet, any potential benefit of read-alouds depends on how the teacher enacts a read-aloud, particularly in…

Engaging teachers of young children in effective in-service professional development is a critical component of establishing high quality early childhood education. However, not all professional development offerings are effective in imparting new knowledge, enhancing teacher practice, or improving child outcomes, making it difficult for teachers…