Recognizing the role of creative representation experiences in early childhood in developing a foundation for adult thinking skills, this booklet and accompanying videotape present six key experiences in creative representation in the High Scope Model: (1) recognizing objects by sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell; (2) imitating actions and…

This Early Childhood Curriculum Manual, one of four manuals based on approaches developed in the research and demonstration program, "Celebration in Learning '76" (CIL), was designed for adults who work with young children and who wish to expand children's use of table toys in the classroom. The first chapter explores what is meant by…

This Early Childhood Curriculum Manual, one of four manuals based on approaches developed in the "Celebration in Learning '76" program, provides guidelines for block play activity to adults who work with young children. The first chapter introduces unit blocks, explores some of the problems teachers commonly face in the block area,…

Describes the interactions among 4-year olds engaged in outdoor play at a preschool, where overnight rains filled the center's sand area and students improvised activities in the wet sand. Notes how, during the discovery exercise, students worked together as teams. Concludes that the measure of quality in early childhood programs must not be…

Based on the view that the quality of adult-child interaction is crucial to children's development and learning in early childhood settings, this guide complements and expands upon the Scottish Office Curriculum Framework for young children and illustrates key aspects of children's learning and development. The guide is designed to be used for…

Notes that the majority of brain development occurs in the first three years of life. States that infant and toddler interactions are beneficial to both ages, provided contact occurs in a safe environment. Discusses how infants and toddlers learn from each other through play, even if they are nonverbal, and further benefit from insights and…

Written in Spanish and focusing on block play activities in the context of early childhood education this manual provides guidelines on expanding such activities for Spanish-speaking teachers of preschool and primary school children. The content of the manual is oriented to the learning styles and special interests of Spanish-speaking children.…

Based on the view that child development occurs within a relationship involving mutuality and that development and the teaching/learning process are intertwined with the social environment, this book examines the critical relationship between child care providers and the young children they care for and teach. Along with an extended discussion of…

This articles presents ways to incorporate constructive play in the early childhood classroom, focusing on building a "learning through play" environment. Three key areas are considered: the teacher's philosophy about children and learning, the physical environment created for learning, and the type and range of play-based activities…

Noting that outdoor play is a significant yet frequently overlooked aspect of young children's development, this book uses a framework of initiation, negotiation, and enactment to show how early childhood teachers can support self-directed pretend play and to connect theories of play and children's culture. The book's preface details the…

Many early childhood teachers report an increase in children's use of aggressive means to work out disputes, often as a result of such influences as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fad. This article offers suggestions for helping children learn ways to resolve conflicts and for creating a conflict resolution curriculum. (LB)

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 guide is intended to help all caregiving adults--parents, grandparents, guardians, care providers, friends, preschool teachers, and other educators--to make the best decisions for and about young children in the early childhood years before the start of formal schooling. The guide aims to help caregivers learn how to: enhance their…

Noting that a high-quality preschool program is one that promotes learning through rich play experiences, this book gives parents information needed to select the right preschool for their children. Chapter 1, "Thinking about Preschool," discusses questions parents ask, practical considerations, beginning the search, and the screening phone call.…

The training and support needs of early years workers is a key issue in Great Britain, especially as it relates to recognizing and responding to the needs of children under age three. This professional development pack, developed by the Educare for the Under Threes Project at Manchester Metropolitan University, is comprised of a workbook with two…