This booklet contains information for parents whose children are enrolled in the Child Development Laboratory (CDL), a university-based preschool and child care program operated by the Department of Human and Community Development on the campus of the University of Illinois. The program provides half-day preschool for 2- to 4-year-old children and…

The multidimensional nature of self-concept was studied in early elementary school children. In addition, the accuracy of children's self-concept ratings was determined through comparisons with the following external measures of ability: (1) parent ratings; (2) teacher ratings; and (3) academic achievement. Participants in this study were 100…

The requirement that schools in England and Wales assess their students, at age seven, in English and mathematics has created a demand for an assessment of students at their entry to statutory schooling. This paper reports on the development and standardization of a test of mathematical concepts for students aged four and over (four plus) as they…

This training guide is designed to enhance the skills of Head Start staff in nurturing children by attending to them and interacting with them so they are safe as they grow and develop. Each of the guide's modules details module outcomes, key concepts, and background information. Module 1 addresses tuning in to children, focusing on building the…

Today, the majority of countries are characterized by multicultural diversity, a factor which has enormous implications for early childhood educators. As we begin to understand the long-term benefits of participation in high quality early childhood care and education, educators must also recognize that their own cultural heritage can and does…

The Center for Applied Linguistics has compiled these resources on the subjects of war trauma and working with refugees to guide refugee service providers and classroom teachers. The materials include background information about trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder and specific information about problems of refugees and victims of war trauma.…

In 1988 the Education Reform Act was passed in England. Among its clauses, the one that laid the framework for a centralized, national curriculum represented the most significant change. One of the key aspects of the national curriculum concerned the way in which student achievement and progress were to be measured. Attainment was to be assessed…

This study gathered information on the extent to which children participate in the mature routines of their community, and the extent to which elders participate in child-centered activities. Subjects were children ranging in age from 30 to 45 months from the four societies of: (1) Mayan Indians living in a rural Guatemalan town; (2) the Efe…

This article addresses the issue of providing education for parenting and reviews programs designed to meet the needs of parent groups. The programs reviewed and issues raised will assist those involved in conducting parent sessions to more effectively address the needs of participants and select helpful materials. Parent education is defined as…

Based on Montessori's ideas about children's innate capabilities and potential, this book encourages restructuring the home environment to provide children, especially preschool children, with opportunities for self-directed activities and personal autonomy. In each of the chapters, a different room is examined as to how it could be redesigned to…

This book looks at children's early development through what are called "touchpoints": times just before a surge of rapid motor, cognitive, or emotional development when, for a short time, children regress in several areas and become difficult to understand. Part 1, called "Touchpoints of Development," is organized around the…

Over the past several years, teachers at the West Virginia University Child Development Laboratory have used the language experience approach to develop the literacy skills of young children. To increase child involvement, a scrapbook project for 4-year-olds was conducted each Wednesday for 1 academic year. Each child received a scrapbook and…

This study investigated associations between young children's behavior and the continuity of parent and provider behavior and attitudes. Subjects were 3- and 4-year-old children, their parents, and their family child care providers. A total of 29 children were observed in their homes with their parents and in the family child care homes with their…

This paper provides an overview of the High/Scope Educational Research Foundation, an organization that sponsors studies of the efficacy of intervention in the early years of development, especially with economically disadvantaged children. Using several High/Scope Foundation studies to illustrate its points, the paper examines issues common to…

Designed for use by parents to further the emotional, social, and intellectual development of their 2- to 6-year old children, this book describes the Montessori method of early childhood education and provides sample activities and games to develop children's skills in the home, the neighborhood, and the world. Following introductory sections…