This paper explores early childhood education (ECD) and social integration within a common framework and against the backdrop of experience gained in these fields in the following 12 Mediterranean nations: Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Palestine, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, and Turkey. The paper notes that these countries display a diversity in their levels of social, economic and political development and vary with respect to child development indicators, provisions and programs for early childhood development and policies for integrating children and families at risk. The following areas of mutual concern which pertain to the region as a whole are identified: (1) there is a need to demystify the whole issues of the care and education of young children and empower parents in their role as the prime educators of their children; (2) it is important to develop cost effective programs which will reach the largest number of children and families at risk; (3) there is a growing body of evidence that pleads for strengthening activities in ECD that are already in place but this should be done with due regard to local needs and constraints; (4) vertical and horizontal networking, improved documentation and giving recognition to local assets and strengths should be given due importance in program development. (Author/SD)