The author grew up as an Illinois farm girl, born in 1922. Both her mother and her grandmother had been teachers trained in Froebelian progressive education methods, and both knew the value of building on children's interests. At about age 9, she became interested in butterflies and made her own museum, including rocks, butterflies, and insects…

Infants and toddlers encounter numerous spoken story experiences early in their lives: conversations, oral stories, and language games such as songs and rhymes. Many adults are even surprised to learn that children this young need these kinds of natural language experiences at all. Adults help very young children take a step along the path toward…

The authors demonstrate how to tailor curriculum to support the varied interests, abilities, and talents of the children in a kindergarten class. Through words and photographs, they describe an in-depth study of rocks and sand, a topic of great interest to the children. The teachers posed open-ended questions that fostered high-level discussions.…

Reflects on experiences of 3- and 4-year-olds after reading "Cat and Alex and the Magic Flying Carpet." Follow-up activities involved children pretending to travel on a magic flying carpet. Notes that children selected locations important in their hearts, minds, and daily lives and that their actions reflected their knowledge of the world, their…

Describes children's early use of oral and written language for different purposes. Advocates fostering early appreciation of a variety of texts to cultivate children's disposition to read and write for enjoyment, information, and communication. Presents ideas for using the talking, reading, and writing done every day by young children to develop…

Based on experience of having two children with multiple learning disabilities, the author offers strategies for parents to help children experience success and excellence in their education: (1) never limit expectations or predetermine the final outcome; (2) explore all interests and abilities for hidden potential; and (3) include children in…

Describes a Montana child development center's creation of an area in which children could enjoy messy, creative, sensory experiences playing with mud and a wide variety of outdoor props. Discusses how mud play contributed to young children's emerging interests and provided opportunities for expressing creativity, enhancing fine motor skills, and…

Discusses how to integrate young children's interests into classroom learning activities. Emphasizes the need for early childhood educators to be creative and open-minded when encountering unexpected interests and classroom situations. (KB)

Illustrates how a volunteer tutor "taught" one seven-year-old boy to enjoy reading through the use of stimulating books that matched the child's personal interests and through motivational activities. (BB)

A teacher introduced mathematical concepts into six year olds' stories about losing and growing teeth. Results demonstrated that children's authentic mathematical experiences are derived from the children's knowledge and experience, are multimodal, and are open ended. Calls for open-ended activities that allow children to explore ways to use…

Discusses the design and development of an in-depth study project curriculum for toddlers. Offers examples of the use of the spiraling curriculum in toddlers' and two year olds' classes. Provides guidelines for conducting in-depth study projects with toddlers. (BB)

Describes the creation of a developmentally appropriate curriculum in one child care center using input from teachers, children, parents, and others. Discusses the planning process that combined teacher-initiated activities with child-initiated ideas and questions to produce a unique, dynamic curriculum of age-appropriate and individually…

Proposes replacing the term child-centered with child-sensitive to indicate more accurately the major role of teachers in determining the curriculum and activities offered to young children. In contrast to the laissez-faire, child-indulgent approach of many child-centered programs, a child sensitive approach would encourage teachers to capitalize…

Describes ways to involve young children in early childhood programs in environmental issues. Focuses on three approaches: the "love approach," which fosters children's appreciation for the natural world; the "know approach," which helps children become knowledgeable about the environment; and the "do approach," which…

Reviews research on the developmental roots of nurturance in young children. Examines child characteristics (age, sex); characteristics of the nurtured object (infants and their behaviors); and aspects of the nurturing situation (adult involvement and encouragement). Implications for furture research and child care practices are suggested. (BB)