During the early childhood years, children learn to interact with one another in ways that are positive and successful. Researchers stress the importance of positive peer relationships in childhood and later life. The absence of positive social interactions in childhood is linked to negative consequences later in life, such as withdrawal,…

Many young children have a natural attraction to and curiosity about animals. They like to observe, touch, talk to, and ask questions about them. Teachers and parents both can use this broad interest to facilitate children's development and learning in a variety of domains. Research shows that children across ages find emotional comfort in their…

The authors advocate that every primary grade program needs a carefully planned social-emotional component. All children--those who enter first or second grade with an ability to control their emotions and make friends and those for whom these skills are more difficult--benefit from intentional teaching in this area. Some school systems adopt a…

Presents eight points for designing the physical and programmatic environments to prevent discipline problems and support learning in early childhood classrooms. Points relate to designing clearly defined activity areas, providing adequate space, assessing the activity structure throughout the day, following an age-appropriate schedule, and…

Tested the impact attenuation characteristics of safety surfaces used in indoor child care play settings. Found that the most common surfaces used were indoor/outdoor carpet, various types of mats, and safety floor tiles. Nearly 60 percent of tested materials had a critical fall height of 1 foot or less. Concluded that carpet, safety tile, and…

Offers a brief overview of children's speech development, discussing positive attitudes toward stuttering and outlining strategies for appropriate interventions by teachers and other adults. A checklist of factors to consider in making a referral for stuttering is provided. (KS)