Early childhood professionals know that good fathering has a profound impact on children. Research confirms that when fathers are involved in the lives of their children, positive outcomes can be expected; when fathers are not involved in their children's lives, more negative outcomes can be seen. Fathers can play an integral role as attachment…

Young babies are easily overwhelmed by the pain of hunger or gas. However, when an infant's day is filled with caregiving experiences characterized by quick responses to his cries and accurate interpretations of the meaning of his communication, the baby learns that he can count on being fed and comforted. He begins to develop trust in his teacher…

Hungarian pediatrician Emmi Pikler theorized that freedom of movement facilitates infants' development and learning. The self-education promoted by freedom to move gives an infant a lasting view of herself as a competent learner. Pikler's approach also emphasizes the importance of helping each child feel respected and secure. The author examines…

This study was designed to determine whether infants actually play with crib toys, and whether the toys affect the duration or onset of sleep. (CS)

Offers suggestions for facilitating infant play for the following age groups: birth to 4 months, 4 to 8 months, 8 to 12 months, and 12 to 18 months. Suggestions cover play materials and some activities. (KB)

Describes some of the ways in which members of the New Orleans Parent Child Developmental Center work with parents of children 6-18 months to aid them in creating a stimulating and interesting environment for their children. (ED)

This article states that the human element is often minimized in planning optimal environments for infant day care, and examines mother-infant interaction research in order to delineate current areas of exploration and to synthesize findings for those interested in upgrading the quality of infant day care. (CM)

Reviews recent research on mother-infant communication that takes into account both the infant's and parent's influences in interactions. Topics discussed include varieties of infant communications, cross-cultural research, the beginnings of communication patterns, assessment of communication effectiveness, and sequelae of differing mother-infant…

Offers examples of what infants and toddlers might do in early childhood settings, how these behaviors are related to mathematics, and what teachers can do to encourage the natural mathematical interests of this age group. Asserts that teachers' interactions with children are vitally important to children's understanding of early mathematics. (KB)

Discusses some of the problems that infants and toddlers experience in infant and toddler day care programs, and suggests four program features that are vital in aiding infants and toddlers in the early years of care. (BB)

The rate and nature of mother-child interaction - verbal and nonverbal- and its effects are here discussed and recent research is presented and analyzed. (Editor/JB)

In this paper some behavioral indices of attachment are defined and some of the factors that affect its development are considered. (Editor)

Discusses the realtionship between toddler behavior and quality child care, and compares the care given to 18-month-old children in home care and center care situations. (CM)

Reviews research on, and offers definitions for, play and learning in infancy. Discusses the developmental sequence in early exploratory play and learning, individual differences in exploratory play, and the relationship between rearing environments and quality of exploratory play. Discusses implications for planning and implementing infant care…