This book, a collection of articles by early childhood specialists, represents an attempt to identify issues and major concerns in the field, and analyze selected aspects of knowledge pertaining to early childhood education. The articles are: (1) "Introduction: From a Time of Plenty" by Bernard Spodek and Herbert J. Walberg; (2) "Affective and…

This report describes and evaluates a system of day care for 659 children in seven southern states (75 percent of the children were preschoolers and infants in center programs, 12 percent were preschoolers in family day care homes, and 13 percent were school-age children, primarily in center programs). Most of the families served were low-income.…

This conference paper proposes a classification of possible psychological activity and illustrates some ways that cognitive development depends on affective development. Through diagrams and examples, the following assumptions (based on Piaget) are developed: (1) Learning is socially as well as materially oriented. (2) Affective and cognitive…

The prescriptive teaching program for multiply handicapped nursery school children is presented in three manuals: prescriptive teaching, integration of prescriptions into classroom activities; and equipment and materials. Given in the prescriptive teaching manual are directions for assessing a child's strengths and weaknesses in functioning on a…

A child's language reflects his thought processes and his level of development. Motor, emotional, and language development all have a direct relationship to the child's cognitive functioning--each follows the pattern of moving from gross and loosely differentiated states to refined and differentiated systems. Research in early childhood education…

In response to California Legislation that would change the cut-off for the minimum 5-year entrance age from December 2 to September 1, this paper reviews the literature discussing the appropriate age for beginning school. The review includes a brief history of kindergarten and its place in California law; discusses the possible impact of the…

A 3-year experiment evaluated the effectiveness of the Pyramid program, an educational program for young children from deprived situations and based on two concepts: psychological nearness (principles of attachment theory) and psychological distance (derived from developmental distancing, or the growing ability of a child to comprehend that an…

In 2003, Sierra Health Foundation's Board of Directors selected school-aged youth as the target for its next focused grantmaking effort. As part of the program research and development phase, staff and consultants examined evidenced-based practices that appear promising in positively affecting adolescent health and development for young people…

Workshop examines resilience in young children. Papers are: (1) "Adverse Effects of Witnessing Violence" (Victor LaCerva); (2) "Relationships and the Developing Mind" (Daniel Siegel); (3) "Support Resilience by Connecting Children with Nature" (Karen Stephens); (4) "Stories of Children in Croatia: Resilience and…

The arts play an important role in human development, enhancing the growth of cognitive, emotional, and psychomotor pathways. Neuroscience research reveals the impressive impact of arts instruction, such as, music, drawing and physical activity, on students' cognitive, social and emotional development. Much of what young children do as…

Responsive Teaching is an early intervention curriculum designed to address the cognitive, language, and social emotional needs of young children with developmental problems. This innovative intervention model was derived from research conducted primarily with children with Down syndrome and their mothers. Results from these studies indicated that…

This report summarizes the results of a study on the impact of Head Start on children's cognitive and socioemotional development, on child health and health institutions in the community, on enrollees' families, and on communities where Head Start programs operate. After discussing the background and methodology of the study, the report concludes…

These proceedings report the results of 10 years of ongoing research by the Malaysian Child Development Project to develop and implement measures to study the cognitive, language, and socioemotional development of Malaysian preschool children. Part 1 of the report contains opening speeches delivered by conference organizers and dignitaries. Part 2…

This teachers' guide is meant to be used in developing individualized programs for pre-kindergarten children or for children of elementary school age who have not developed pre-kindergarten competencies. The guide outlines concepts and skills that many preschool children master before entering kindergarten or first grade. Contents concern six…

One of a series of documents produced by a nationwide network of early childhood education specialists, teachers, parents, and Head Start staff, the guide describes developmental characteristics of preschool and elementary school students by grade level. Arranged into five curriculum areas, the first presents physical, motor, social, cognitive,…