Infants are immersed in a world of sounds from the moment their auditory system becomes functional, and experience with the auditory world shapes how their brain processes sounds in their environment. Across cultures, speech and music are two dominant auditory signals in infants' daily lives. Decades of research have repeatedly shown that both…

This systematic review aims to identify the dimensions operationalized in different instruments that assess the developmental domains in Early Childhood Education through play. Research between 2015 and 2021 that dealt with quantitative developmental assessment instruments from 2 to 7 years of age were included. Instruments without psychometric…

An integral part of occupational therapy practice in early intervention involves assessment and treatment of pre-printing challenges and determination of printing readiness; however, the evidence to inform best practice has not been thoroughly investigated. This paper is part of a larger scoping review that focused on theoretical frameworks for…

The first years of life lay the foundations for a child's future development and learning. Many countries have increased their financial support for provision of early childhood education and care (ECEC) over the past years. More recently, the focus of debate has been shifting from expanding access to affordable ECEC to enhancing its quality. A…

The expansion of publicly-funded preschool education is currently the focus of a prominent debate. At present, 42% of 4-year-olds attend publicly funded preschool (28% attend public prekindergarten programs, 11% Head Start, and 3% special education preschool programs). A vigorous debate about the merits of preschool education is underway, although…

In this paper we examine the development of children's metamemory and provide practical implications of research findings for the classroom. In the first part of the paper we define and discuss the global concept of metacognition, the component processes of metacognition and the importance of each component to children's learning. We…

This article reviews the current status and a future agenda for childhood career development theory, research, and practice. The fragmented nature of the current state of the literature is noted, and a call is made for a reexamination and reconsideration of the childhood developmental pathways of life's work. It is suggested that the study of…

Reviews literature to describe young children's pitch-matching accuracy and vocal range, and outlines developmentally appropriate practice. Identifies internal and external influences on pitch-matching accuracy and vocal range. Suggests that children's musical development should be considered in a dynamic way and that what is called…

A review of groundbreaking studies in child development by Piaget, Vygotsky, Baillargeon, Premack, and Woodruff suggests that the ideal learning environment would need to have developmentally appropriate and challenging activities; nurturing experts; plenty of social interaction; and opportunities for problem solving, thoughtful reflection, and…

Based on a review of 30 years of academic research on infant and toddler development, this report describes patterns of child development from birth to 3 years of age and examines the implications for Scottish out-of-home care. Developmental patterns are described for the following age groups: birth to 3 months, 3 to 12 months, 1 to 2 years, and 2…

There is currently widespread international concern with delivering high-quality early childhood education and care to young children. Crucial to this effort is an appropriate way of defining and monitoring quality. This article explores the micro-context of quality care, that is, the nature of interactions between children and others (both…

The recent call for developmentally appropriate practices is analyzed from the perspective of the sociology of the curriculum, which is examined briefly. Discussion covers metaphors that form the foundation of curriculum theory and two alternative metaphors: early childhood education as caring and as schooling for democracy. (LB)

This paper establishes a link between children's development, appropriate teaching practices, and the use of computers in the early childhood classroom. The paper notes the growing body of research on young children and computers which educators can use to assist them when integrating technology into their programs. Current investigative studies…

This paper explores the research literature surrounding beliefs about children's play and the rationale for using play-based programming as part of early childhood special education practices. Discussions of recommended practices for educating or serving the needs of children typically refer to developmentally appropriate practice (DAP). DAP is…

Identifies some of the inherent problems involved in, and presents a differentiated definition of, "developmentally appropriate programming and practices" that specifically targets the special needs of young gifted children. A Multidimensional Curriculum Model is introduced which can be used to design developmentally-based curricula appropriate…