The intent of this booklet is to provide practitioners and parents with (1) research findings related to three aspects of development important to all children--problem solving abilities, language development, and self-concept; (2) interpretations of these findings; and (3) activities for children appropriate to these findings. Bibliographies of…

Changes in kindergarten education in the United States from its inception to the present and reasons for the historical changes are explored. Froebel's approach to kindergarten education is described and the introduction of kindergarten programs in the United States by various sponsors such as the Women's Temperance Union, churches, and settlement…

The family, responsible for the well being of children, has felt alienated from the schools. One of the reasons has been its inability to communicate personal and social needs to the schools, and the schools' inability to clarify what is expected from parents. Parents and the family unit need to be helped to understand the schools' role in the…

Aspects of the Help-A-Kid (HAK) program considered in this series of six workbook guides include: (1) the program's organization, its objectives, its strategies for getting students to participate, and the roles of parents and the community in the program's implementation; (2) in-service training for junior staff; (3) values clarification raps…

In a consideration of the development of referential communication performance, this paper describes three broad capacities that appear to underlie successful performance: the speaker's ability to analyze the persepective of the listener and formulate a message with this perspective in mind, the child's ability to meet the information processing…

This study investigated the role of the public library in serving children from infancy to age six. Recommendations from early childhood education authorities pertaining to 5 areas of public library work with young children (services, programs, materials, physical facilities, and personnel) were obtained through questionnaires and interviews. Data…

This collection of short articles focuses on various dimensions of childhood ecology. Section I introduces a conceptual framework for the study of childhood ecology and poses 4 methodological principles for human development specialists. Four ecological subsystems are identified and discussed briefly. Section II discusses the family microsystem in…

This overview was designed to illustrate how elementary education is a total program based on the natural growth and development of children. Ten humanistic goals are identified as of fundamental importance for a fully educated person, and the responsibilities of the school in achieving these goals are discussed. Three educational objectives are…

This student guide for a program concerned with why children put so much energy into play, what play means to them, and what they learn from it, provides suggestions for what parents can do to encourage and support this important aspect of their children's growth. Designed around a magazine format to allow maximum flexibility to different groups…

This student guide for a program concerned with how young children acquire social skills defines social skills and describes some ways that parents can build upon their child's desire to get along with people and learn these skills. Designed around a magazine format to allow maximum flexibility to different groups using the materials, the guide is…

This student guide for a program focusing on things parents need in order to do a good job raising their children and some resources that are available to meet these needs, as well as things that society still needs to do to meet its responsibility to children and parents, is designed around a magazine format to allow maximum flexibility to…

This guide is designed for use by the home viewer of the television series, Footsteps, which focuses on some of the problems and concerns that all parents of young children face. Each of the 20 sections includes a general discussion of the theme of a television program, as well as some guidelines for coping with the problems discussed, suggested…

The purpose of this report is to help advance the family research program of HEW's Administration for Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF) by (1) surveying and analyzing selected literature and recent research on the family and (2) drawing implications for future research program development. Chapter I attempts to conceptualize the historical…

This paper describes a project which is attempting to strengthen existing mental health programs and develop new forms of support for rural children, since current programs are limited by a scarcity of funds, trained personnel, and supportive services. The setting of the project is a three-county area in Southwestern Pennsylvania which has been…

A comprehensive and systematic search was conducted for all literature pertaining to the planning and design of children's indoor and outdoor facilities. Emphasis was placed on compiling a list of empirical and professional literature on child care facilities and outdoor play environments dealing with the following issues: (1) the role of the…