Emphasizes that early intervention collaboration between families and service providers yields benefits for all involved. Provides tips for strengthening communication with families, focusing on building relationships with fathers. Highlights ways to support and involve fathers through program practices and policies, staff education efforts, and…

Describes how a quilting theme can provide an inclusive, engaging experience for children that also strengthens literacy, communicative, cognitive, and problem-solving skills and encourages family involvement. Outlines the phases of a quilting project, lists related classroom activities for both preschool and primary classrooms, and offers…

How a Head Start program expanded to become an early child development program'' which includes training for the parents in a Community Education Center.'' (SP)

Describes the beginnings of Head Start in detail. Discusses Head Start's record in providing health care for low-income children. Compares early Head Start with the program of recent years. Discusses ways in which Head Start emphasizes children's health and helps Head Start parents and family members. (BG)

Reviews strategies and techniques to enhance prosocial development. Suggests ways for involving whole classrooms, entire school systems, parents, and communities in creating classroom and home climates for prosocial expectations and learner support. Gives specific activities, strategies, guidelines, and resources. (ET)

This paper describes a Family Education Center in a prison setting. A children's activity center in the prison visiting area serves as a focus for adult education (emphasizing the concerns of families) and provides a child care service. (BD)

Examines different types of auxiliary aids and services necessary to ensure effective communication with disabled children. The relevant legislation is discussed and guidelines are provided for deciding the appropriate type of aid for different cases. Low-cost strategies are proposed to ensure that individuals with a disability will not be treated…

Notes that while parental involvement in the classroom is beneficial, it can be difficult for teachers to maintain a balance between classroom needs and parent preferences. Briefly describes six successful activities for parental involvement and what is expected of parent volunteers for each activity. Outlines five other considerations for…

Considers current and emerging efforts in early childhood education to engage fathers. Focuses on the relationship between the fields of father involvement and early childhood education. Describes three areas of father involvement: paternal caregiving, cooperative parenting with early childhood programs, and contributing to academic achievement…

Reviews early education practices that respect families' effects on child development, acknowledges families as decision makers, and supports families' role in educating and caring for children. Discusses three principles for family-centered practice and describes continuing challenges and opportunities suggested in the research findings. Charts…

A diverse group of professionals associated with Texas Woman's University's Institute for Women's Health, working collaboratively with school administrators, teachers, family support teams, and family members, developed Growing with EASE: Eating, Activity, and Self-Esteem, a nutrition program for young children and their families. In tracking the…

Discusses the need for early childhood programs to develop strong partnerships with families in order to support each parent's role as his or her child's primary educator and to provide a foundation for ongoing family involvement. Outlines the steps for establishing high-quality parent involvement programs and offers examples of how parents can…

Argues that a family-centered approach is as important and applicable to early care and education programs as it is to family-friendly work environments. Encourages child care settings to incorporate ideas and participation by families, providers, public sector, and private sector in order to provide high-quality services. (SD)

Discusses calls for Head Start to expand its services for children from birth to three years and to devise standards for infants and toddlers. Recent policy decisions resulting in such expansion are discussed. The need for Head Start staff involved with infant and toddler care to be trained about infancy is considered in detail. (BG)