Data from elicited language tasks can add to the literature on the development of the complex syntax structures of embedded complement clauses in typically developing children. In the current study, preschool-age children (n = 27) participated in two elicited language tasks focusing on three types of embedded complement clauses: infinitival…

Early intervention services are intended to be family-centered, meaning families are honored, respected, and involved in service delivery (Dunst, 2002). However, little research has been conducted to explore family perceptions of their participation in early intervention services. This study explored 12 families' perceptions about their…

This research investigated the relationship between adult resilience, resilient leadership practices, and variables that reflected turnover to learn if increasing adult resilience or resilience leadership practices is an avenue to reduce turnover of high quality early childhood education teachers. The areas of adult resilience and resilient…

While there is a great body of research regarding inclusion of children with disabilities in educational settings, inquiry regarding inclusion for children under the age of five is comparatively much less robust. More children with developmental delays, learning differences, and disabilities are attending traditional early care and early education…

An experimental crossover research design was utilized to investigate the effects of multimedia-enhanced instruction on the vocabulary acquisition of dual language learners in the early childhood age range. Sixteen 3-year-olds stratified by classroom and randomly assigned to condition participated in an eight-week intervention that incorporated…

In 1995, Betty Hart and Todd Risley published findings that young children from low-income backgrounds will hear 32 million fewer words than their more affluent peers by the time they turn four years old. Historically, this "word gap" has solely been identified as a function of socioeconomic status--or more specifically, family income.…

In order to truly meet the unique learning needs of young children with blindness and visual impairment (BVI), it is critical to accurately define the population to create and implement quality and responsive support services. The current analysis utilized existing data gathered from the Babies Count database to examine the defining…

Parents' perceptions regarding the home literacy environment and their ability to provide their children with literacy experiences and materials was the focus of this quantitative, exploratory quasi-experimental research study. Parents' ability to provide quality literacy experiences and materials provides a foundation for their children's future…

A watershed of knowledge about how very young children learn and develop has been revealed through the science of child development. The science of child development has demonstrated that immediately from birth, babies need supportive relationships and responsive environments in order to build strong brain circuits and lay the foundations for both…

The current study examined the screening and evaluation of 2,594 toddlers between 16 and 36 months of age for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to determine the clinical utility of Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers-Albanian version(M-CHAT-R-A). Of these children, 253 (9.75%) toddlers screened positive on the initial screening at pediatric…

Reflective functioning has been referred to as the ability to understand intentions, motives, and actions in both oneself and others. This study explored reflective functioning in African American single mothers of infant and toddler children. Mothers were asked to participate in four psycho-educational group discussions that included information,…

The purpose of this action research was to understand how reflective, job-embedded early childhood science professional learning and development (PLD) impacted Early Head Start (EHS) teacher learning and their perceptions toward science with toddlers. Limited content knowledge and lack of formal preparation impact teachers' understanding of…

This paper aims to provide a position on the need for enhanced personnel preparation for special instruction in Early Intervention (EI). The need for specialized training is discussed, followed by the research, current issues, and needs. A framework for personnel preparation is provided: professional standards, competencies (knowledge, skills, and…

Over the past two decades reported rates of autism have steadily risen. The current incidence is 1 in 68 children. While autism can be reliably diagnosed at 18 months in most children with the condition, specialized autism treatment rarely begins before a child's third or fourth birthday. As screening and diagnosis procedures improve so does the…

Over the course of the past three decades, largely due to advances in technology, there has been growth in the fields of early intervention (EI) and pediatrics for infants/toddlers with special health care needs (SHCN). This growth has also brought about a change in the relationship between pediatricians and EI service coordinators, creating an…