This paper offers guidelines for effectively integrating preschool children with disabilities in classrooms with nonhandicapped children. First, formal aspects of program integration including legislative requirements and the Child Find program to identify young children needing special services are reviewed. Next, program planning guidelines are…

Argues caregivers play an important role in infant personality development and growth. Provides a review of theories on temperament styles, attachment relationships, sex role socialization, and the roots of prosocial and aggressive interactions. Describes how caregivers promote positive personality development through free play and responding to…

This study examined parenting styles reported by middle-class families of 105 preschoolers between 3 and 5 years of age who had experienced varying amounts of full-time infant child care. Children had experienced one of the following conditions: (1) full-time nonparental care beginning before 9 months of age; (2) full-time nonparental care…

The Family Development Research Program (FDRP) was an omnibus effort to serve low-income, low education families by providing education, nutrition, health, safety, and human service resources for the 108 families initially recruited. This paper describes the program and summarizes findings from the longitudinal evaluation. Home visitors provided…

Caregivers must build a trusting, loving relationship before trying to toilet train any child. Before toilet training begins, myelinization, a neurological development necessary for controlling sphincter muscles, must be complete and toddlers must be able to sit easily for long periods. To help children recognize toilet needs, caregivers should…

This presentation suggests books, audiovisuals, articles, and training materials that can serve to introduce new parents and child care workers into the art and practice of high quality infant and child care. The materials described are easy-to-read and addressed to the practitioner. They deal with a wide variety of issues, reflect the best of…

Noting that research and clinical findings confirm the connection to later emotional well-being of a secure attachment between each infant or young child and a warm, stable adult, this book addresses aspects of attachment important for caregivers of infants and toddlers. The book focuses on those aspects of attachment caregivers need to understand…

Psychosexual development in young children is a topic that early childhood educators often ignore in the belief that children are not sexual beings. This paper discusses psychosexual development in young children, noting that preschoolers are often puzzled by sexual anatomical differences, that children need names for sexual body parts, and that…

This paper describes a study of the socioemotional functioning of middle-class male and female preschoolers who had experienced varying degrees of nonparental care during the infant/toddler period. A review of the literature revealed that previous research findings from child care programs were inconclusive about potential differential effects on…

This study investigated the effect of long-term professional social agency support on the level of stress perceived by mothers (N=65) of preschoolers with disabilities. Mothers completed the Questionnaire on Resources and Stress (QRS-F) and the Holmes and Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scale. The hypothesis that stress is greater for mothers of…

Teachers who are specialists in motoric skill-building need to think about ways in which they can help the whole child develop. This paper discusses: (1) fine and gross motor development in infancy; (2) baby cuddling for optimal motoric development; (3) cross-cultural studies and infant body holding; (4) floor freedom for babies; (5) body language…

This study examined the effects of divorce and custody arrangements on Taiwanese children's emotional adjustment and gender role development 2 years post-divorce. The sample consisted of 90 children, 30 in father custody, 30 in mother custody, and 30 in intact families. Teachers, blind to study purposes and well-acquainted with the children, rated…

This paper annotates research "stories" on the development of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers and is intended to be used by early childhood professionals as a basis for teaching parenting courses and helping families in stressful situations. The references are organized by topic area: (1) child abuse; (2) attachment; (3) fathering; (4) infant…

Noting that children s first words are exciting for parents to hear, this book describes how babies can "talk" before they learn to say actual words and shows ways parents can help babies learn language. The book addresses a neglected area in child development--how to help low literacy parents and parents for whom English is a Second…