Describes current provision of early childhood education in Australia, focusing on the South Australian curriculum, standards, and accountability framework. Argues that educational quality is relative to a particular culture, dependent on one's understanding of optimal child development, of societal priorities, and of the resources available to…

This qualitative evaluation study explored the active classroom practices that early years teachers adopt when they introduce kindergartners to science in Greece. Findings indicated a considerable gap between the proposed and implemented curriculum. Findings also identified a number of factors that were not optimal and confirmed that early years…

Excerpts teacher narratives of children's music activities in inclusive early childhood environments to show how music can be used to offer varying levels of engagement ranging from listening or observing to joining in as an active participant. Summarizes the beliefs of the National Association for Music Education for guiding developmentally and…

Four workshops focus on nutrition for infants and children in child care settings. Articles are: (1) "Nutrition and Child Development: Global Perspectives" (Jacqueline Hayden); (2) "Working with Families around Nutritional Issues" (Wayne Eastman); (3) "Breastfeeding Promotion in Child Care" (Laura Dutil Aird); and (4) "Food as Shared…

Urges parents and teachers to cultivate realistic expectations regarding the development of young children. Sees the parents' role as teaching basic activities related to food, sleep, cleanliness, safety and love. Sees the preschool's role as helping children learn to get along with others, develop language skills, and accept responsibilities.…

Twelve preschoolers took part in an educational program designed to encourage social interactions with disabled children. Preschoolers who received the educational program made 14 positive social interactions with a visiting disabled child, compared to 2 made by a control group who did not receive the program. (MDM)

A Head Start center assessed and improved its nutrition program. The process involved understanding the program's flaws; developing strategies for change that emphasized mental health and education and impacted all components of the curriculum; and fostering positive staff attitudes toward nutrition. (SM)

Used a penny arcade game concept constructed by preschoolers as a learning tool. Found that the interests of children were clearly visible through their use of peer teaching, collaboration, problem solving, divergent thinking, and use of multiple strategies. Found children were tuned in to learning due to a sense of ownership and empowerment. (SD)

Offers suggestions for selecting appropriate classroom materials and designing an early-childhood classroom in which children learn through play. Focuses on the decisions a beginning teacher needs to make, such as selecting the curriculum, identifying appropriate learning areas, finding intriguing learning materials, selecting comfortable…

Maintains that research fails to capture the diversity in teaching. Advocates caution in assuming one correct child rearing or educational practice. Discusses whether categories such as developmentally appropriate practice or developmental stages are facts of nature, interpretations, or perspectives on social processes; and whether developmentally…

Examines the link between movement experiences--and their consequences during infancy--and cognitive development. Explains how movement stimulates cognitive development, the role of aerobic activity, and the importance of skill development. Offers suggestions for enhancing preschool motor learning experiences, practicing movement fundamentals,…

Describes a project designed to enhance the development of preschool children's aesthetic awareness. Explores how the project presented strategies and materials that can be readily incorporated into the curriculum for any group of young children. Strategies included focusing children's observations; making art happen; and expanding artistic…

In 1999, the Governing Board of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) appointed a commission to review NAEYC accreditation. Among the commission's recommendations is the goal of making NAEYC accreditation the standard-bearer of program excellence. While NAEYC accreditation is often used to support a claim that a…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a preschool emergent literacy enrichment curriculum. Participants were 126 Head Start children, their teachers, and their parents. Matched centers were assigned to 1 of 3 conditions: experimental literacy, experimental math, or control. Teachers in both experimental groups implemented…

This Curriculum Guide provides practical curricular suggestions that correspond to the best practice indicators included in the Early Childhood Special Education Program Design and Evaluation Guide (EC-SPEED). Developed through funds provided by the Ohio Department of Education as one of several of EC-SPEED materials, it is based on the assumption…