In their quest for resources to support children's early literacy learning and development, parents encounter and traverse different spaces in which discourses and artifacts are produced and circulated. This paper uses conceptual tools from the field of geosemiotics to examine some commercial spaces designed for parents and children that…

Argues that contrary to present notions, both pre-school and child-care facilities are considered important and beneficial by lower income groups as well as by upper- and middle-income groups and that consequently both forms of service should be supported by the Commonwealth Government in Australia. (SS)

Discusses the Australian "Share the Joy" project which promotes art appreciation experiences for young children and adults in a gallery setting. Describes and reflects on the reactions of children to original art works in museums and examines the responses of children and parents to a prepared studio environment. (GEA)

Aspects of the spoken language development of the preschool and primary school child are briefly covered, with specific attention given to receptive and expressive language, semantics, syntax, memory, articulation, pragmatics, and metalanguage. Developmental norms are indicated in the areas of vocabulary development, sentence structure…

In an effort to ensure that the arts receive equity with other areas of study, this paper presents an argument for the value of arts education in children's development. The argument is based on the work of four experts: (1) Nelson Goodman, who held that symbols are indispensable to communication, and that children's capacity for acquiring…

This comparison is based on the authors' selective review of literature, observations of Montessori preschools in America and Australia, and experience in early childhood teacher education in Australia. The discussion explores general educational objectives, curricula, children's activities, instructional approaches, and teacher role in preschools…

A professional health educator's viewpoint on planning the educational aspects of public health programs at the preschool level. (CM)

Attitudinal data concerning integration of students with disabilities into regular classrooms were gathered from six groups of Australian educators (principals, regular teachers, resource teachers, school psychologists/counselors, and two groups of preschool directors). Considerable attitudinal differences were found both within and among…

Written as a position statement on educational leadership, this article uses a heart metaphor to delineate a workable managerial framework. Leadership is at the heart of managing all educational levels. Leading is the educational lifeblood that guides and flows into planning, organizing, and monitoring teachers' work. (Contains 43 references.)…

This brief seminar presentation for parents and child minders points out aspects of brain development in human infants and provides answers to questions asked by seminar participants. Basic facts of anatomy, including the development of micro- and macroneurons, nerve cell migration, sprouting synapse formation and the death of brain cells are…

Clarification of issues will help training persons provide services to preschool children and families. Issues include content of training programs, parenting roles, and objectives of early childhood education programs. The author suggests expanding (1) the scope of preschool personnel training, (2) diversity of child services, and (3) the…

Recognizes problems of resettlement for Australian migrant families, including the following: unemployment, inability to speak English, loss of the extended family, problems of maintaining an ethnic identity, role conflict, conflicting child rearing patterns with the host society, and locating resources and services. Ideas for helping families…

Predicts that changing sociocultural patterns will affect services for Australian children in the 1980s. Among topics discussed are demographic changes: a decreased birth rate and an increased number of working mothers in fatherless families at the poverty level. Compensatory education programs and family policy development in Western societies…

This document provides a collection of articles, speeches, and newsletter excerpts covering the accreditation of child care programs in Australia and the United States. The collection contains the following speeches and articles: (1) "The Road to Accreditation," on the history of accreditation in the two countries; (2) "The Case for…

Reviews developments pertinent to services for Australian children of preschool age. Emphasis is placed on the influence of school personnel, in league with the community, in the development of services for preschool-aged children. Focus is directed toward establishing standards to minimize developmental risks in children. (Author/DB)