This qualitative study provides a phenomenological perspective and comparative analysis of character education within the Christian school and home education milieu. The study is based on semi-structured interviews of fifty-two individuals (N = 52) representative of a sampling of Christian educators from four private, evangelical Christian Schools…

First, this report examines the level of public investment (from federal, state, and local school district sources) in children's growth and development by child age. It builds upon an earlier twelve-state report by examining public investment in nine additional states and the District of Columbia. This part describes overall per child investments…

This digest, which is based on findings from a large variety of studies, reviews the known effects of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 on children to date and discusses the Act's possible future effects. Federal statistics show a positive trend in poverty reduction, though other sources are not optimistic…

This monograph describes an alternative model for early childhood care and education involving a complex and integrated system that allows for more collaboration among early childhood care and education activities. The model, with its emphasis on values in all educational practices, is intended to promote a more global and total approach to…

Children's sociodramatic play is very much associated with their growing ability to use symbols for a variety of functional purposes external to the symbols themselves. Defining such play as "voluntary social role-playing involving two or more children," this paper draws on research on sociodramatic play to: (1) discuss the nature of…

A growing body of science shows the critical effects of an extreme and sustained stressful environment for children on their developing brain architecture and the expression of genes in later life. Toxic stress can shift the brain into surviving in a way that's more rigid and less adaptive. For example, as a result of biologically altered brain…

Children may do better in school if they can see how education is connected to a successful future. This brochure is designed for parents to help their children: (1) Discover the variety of jobs available; (2) Connect classroom learning in school to real-world situations; (3) Begin viewing himself or herself in an occupation; and (4) Develop…

One of the ways in which children of depressed parents are affected is in the area of cognitive schemata. In cognitive behavioral theory, schemata drive emotions and therefore influence behavior. Subsequently, a better understanding of the cognitive schemata of children of depressed parents is attempted in this paper. It offers a review of the…

Two studies examined children's first references to the mental states of perception, desire, and belief in themselves and others. In Study 1, children interacted with their mothers in a laboratory setting at 14, 20, and 32 months of age (n=52); in Study 2, children were observed in their homes at 3-month intervals from 18 to 42 months (n=32).…

Neurological research indicates that children's experiences, both inside and outside of school, significantly influence brain development. But little is known about children's out-of-school activities and the influence such activities may have on academic achievement. To better understand this relationship, the extra-school activities of 75…

This program deals with the child-school "fit" as seen in the context of child development, childhood stress, and children's emotional well-being. It reviews psychological principles and shows their implications for how schools might be optimally structured and managed to help all children cope more effectively. The text begins with the importance…

Intended to help parents ensure a safe and positive experience for their child's babysitters, this booklet provides helpful information for babysitters of children ages birth through 7 years. The booklet is divided into three major sections. Section 1 contains a letter to the babysitter regarding his or her responsibilities, suggested strategies…

The magnitude of childhood lead poisoning has been inexplicably neglected by modern medicine and by legislators. However, since the 1970s, increased attention has been focused on lead poisoning, and advances have been made in several areas, including understanding of the neurodevelopmental and behavioral ramifications of lead poisoning, and…

A researcher examined his experiences shadowing young children as they participated in a voluntary transfer and desegregation program that allowed their parents to choose to send them to schools outside their home district. This paper describes the practice of shadowing and discusses some of the issues involved in this technique. There are three…

Current debates regarding teaching children to read are centered around the most effective way to establish a foundation for literacy in the early years. This document is comprised of a set of three position papers on how the High/Scope Educational Research Foundation teaches young children to read in its infant-toddler, preschool, and early…