This article describes the manner in which empathy develops during different stages of childhood, from birth to age 6. The first section, "Why Is She Crying?" (Carla Poole), deals with empathy development in children from birth to age two. This is followed by a section entitled "It'll Be OK" (Susan A. Miller) on ages three to four. The article…

This booklet presents a brief overview of the components of a center-based Head Start child development program, including its general philosophy as well as guidelines for specific daily planning. Headings are: (1) What is a Child Development Program? (2) The Staff Designs Its Own Program; (3) The Children Themselves--What Are They Like? (4) Goals…

In this article, the author discusses the characteristics of an intentional caregiver and the importance of "windows of opportunity". The author states that when caregivers use the guidelines provided by the "Windows of Opportunity," they create a purposeful classroom. All caregivers and teachers of young children face the same challenge--finding…

In this article the preschool education in China and the United States are compared, based on the factors that influence the preschool education in each country as well as the characteristics of the preschool education in each culture. The preschool education in both countries has its strengths and weaknesses, which result from their respective…

This is the second of two reports commissioned by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) intended to address the dire need for teacher preparation policy and programs to reflect recent advances in scientific knowledge of child and adolescent development. In the first report, "Principles and Exemplars for…

The goal of the present study is to explore the use of developmentally appropriate practices in Asian Indian early childhood classrooms. This information is critical for all early childhood educators and teacher educators because the society we live in is fast becoming extremely diverse and our classrooms are becoming a cauldron of various…

The authors describe a five-day, literature-based thematic unit for second-graders on positive character traits, such as friendship, respect, perseverance, honesty, and cooperation, and how four books by Janell Cannon are integral to children's learning. (The authors offer suggestions throughout for adapting the unit for younger children.) They…

This article briefly describes Piaget's theory and how it has been put into practice in several preschool centers. (PD)

THE ART PROGRAM IS BASED ON FINDINGS THAT CHILDREN LEARN BEST BY EXPERIMENTING WITH MATERIALS AND GAIN THE CONFIDENCE TO THINK, FEEL, AND EXPRESS THEMSELVES WHEN THEY ARE GIVEN TIME TO WORK AT THEIR OWN PACE, WITHIN THEIR CURRENT DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE. SOME CHILDREN PASS RAPIDLY FROM STAGE TO STAGE WHILE OTHERS HAVE PERIODS OF LITTLE OR NO APPARENT…

This document is divided into three parts. Part 1 introduces the Health and Optimum Physical Education project and explains that this project operates under the premise that movement education contributes to a child's total development. In part 2 four concepts are identified as the foundation for efficient and effective movement, and the way in…

This document is a collection of nine essays by different authors. The emphasis of all the essays is on individualized instruction for children and the teacher's role in it. The following essays are included: a) "Personalized Teaching and Individualized Learning"; b) "The Changing Role of the Teacher"; c) "Organization for Individual Work"; d)…

This book, which concerns the teaching of English, is composed of two parts. Part One--The Imaginative Faculty contains the following chapters: 1. "The First Year: The Rediscovery of the Familiar"; 2. "The Second and Third Years: The Growth of Consciousness"; 3. "The Final Stage: Imagination and Morality"; and 4. "The Dramatic Experience." Part…

The Suzuki Method was created by 79-year-old Shinichi Suzuki. Here it is described and its originator evaluated. (RK)

Maintains that preschool programs should emphasize the child's development and learning potentials by focusing on the child's intrinsic interests and not on academically oriented, subject-centered learning and teaching. (BB)

Teachers must try to listen to children a great deal more and question them a great deal less. (Author)