Early childhood education Centres of Innovation (COI) were established in 2002 as part of the 10-year plan for early childhood education, "Pathways to the Future/Nga Huarahi Arataki." In COI projects, innovative early childhood teaching teams reflect on and investigate their practices through action research, and share their findings…

This qualitative study investigated the experiences of two pairs of boys (one pair typically developing, one pair with Down Syndrome) during their transitions to school. The boys were observed using continuous narrative recordings, during all aspects of the curriculum. Their teachers, parents and peers were also interviewed. Results indicated that…

Attention to spirituality is proposed to be a means of restoring and supporting well-being in early childhood educational contexts. In Aotearoa, New Zealand, the spiritual dimension is included in the early childhood curriculum "Te Whariki". This holistic approach to education supported research in three different early childhood…

This article shares the views of the members of the World Forum community regarding early childhood education trends around the world. It summarizes trends from Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Denmark, The Netherlands, Italy, Turkey, Nepal, Vietnam, Tajikistan, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, New Zealand, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt,…

This study examines the effects of public preschool expenditures on the math and science scores of 4th graders, holding constant child, family, and school characteristics, other relevant social expenditures, and country and year effects, in 7 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries--Australia, Japan, the…

This large-scale study describes what children know and can do when they start school in Scotland. The description became possible because a third of Scottish Authorities are involved in a single, broadly based, on-entry baseline assessment of children. The study also looked at variations by home background, sex, age and pre-school experience…

In the early nineteenth century, governments began to develop specialized educational programs--kindergartens and infant or nursery schools--to give children a head start in life. These programs hinged on new visions of childhood that originated in England and Europe, but what happened when they were transported to the colonies? This book unwinds…

Describes the playcentre, a parent-based center resembling the preschools of Western societies, but serving a wider age range, from 2 1/2 to 5 years. Includes a section on parent training. (BR)

Describes preschool education in Australia and New Zealand. (ST)

Several studies indicate that many disabled children in New Zealand regular classes whom teachers and parents believe require special educational services are not being referred. Possible reasons for nonreferral and strategies for locating preschool and school-aged children are considered. (Author/CL)

Children's perceptions of the roles of mother, father, and teacher were examined in a sample of 31 boys and 28 girls attending full-time day care, half-day kindergarten, or some combination of child care arrangements. Interview data were coded into four main role categories under the headings of Domestic, Child Care, Paid Work, and Personal. The…

This cumulative index lists all articles and book reviews published in the "New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies" from 1966 to 1982. The index consists of three sections. In the main entry section, citations are grouped in numerical order beginning with the first article published. The author and institution index provides access…

The results of the Peabody Test did not show significant gains for lower socioeconomic children following the pretest and the play session. This is inconsistent with previous findings of other studies. (Author/AM)

This report contains the text of the opening address, the text of the principal paper, and abstracts of 18 background papers discussed at the Fourth International Seminar on Research in Music Education. The seminar dealt with the state of present research concerning music education for children up to age 5. The papers covered such topics as:…

Focuses on the early childhood care and education of Maori children in New Zealand preschool groups and the efforts made to help them cope successfully in both Maori and Western worlds. (CM)