Promotes the effort to amplify the concept of guidance to help children solve social problems. Defines guidance, traces the guidance tradition in early childhood education, examines the present trend toward guidance, explains what guidance is not, and illustrates key practices in classrooms where teachers use guidance. (Author)

Argues that for reasons of development and temperament, many boys have difficulty fitting the traditional classroom expectations of many teachers. Presents some specific strategy changes made by a teacher in the learning environment to address boys' development, interests, and activity levels. Asserts that addressing the needs of boys can make a…

Discusses creative dramatics as an experiential and interactive play process comprised of three phases: (1) pantomiming action; (2) improvising words; and (3) building plot and characters. Contains teacher information on guiding and encouraging playmaking, creating a developmentally appropriate dramatics program, and the expected benefits of…

Describes problems for a university-based child development laboratory of decreased university funding, overworked staff, and huge public demand. Explains that instead of conventional responses, the program was redesigned by decreasing enrollment and increasing length of the remaining program, thereby maintaining income levels and addressing…

Discusses the importance of the development of trust in peer relationships and friendships among young children. Also suggests strategies that teachers can use to help children develop trusting friendships. (BB)

Examines a group of accredited early childhood programs at the time of reaccreditation. Considers the percentage of programs that achieved reaccreditation; changes that took place over a three-year period; the simplification of the reaccreditation process for program staff; and the appropriate length of time for accreditation to be valid. (BB)

Discusses whether developmental delays can be the unintended consequence of developmentally inappropriate preschool teacher and staff practices. Describes the interplay between language and knowledge in early childhood. Includes a table that specifies the child's ability to take in information from language input through five developmental stages…

Describes eight components of planning initiatives for improving the quality and delivery of early childhood education: (1) creating linkages; (2) using data in planning; (3) improving program quality; (4) developing a coordinated professional development system; (5) financing the system; (6) creating new systems of governance; (7) building public…

Examines singing as a tool for managing children's behaviors. Suggests that singing can be a powerful tool to soothe a baby, promote learning daily routines and cooperativeness, ease separation troubles, build trust and self-esteem, awake a love for poetry and imagery, stretch memorizing power, help develop humor, and build motor skills. Proposes…

Comments on where the early childhood profession stands, where it should go, and how organizations like the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) can move the field ahead. Discusses two strategies early childhood educators can pursue to improve compensation in the next 5 to 10 years: defining quality as an issue of…

First, acknowledges Piaget's, Kohlberg's, and Freud's perspectives on moral development. Then reviews more recent research indicating that moral understanding emerges during the first few years of life through children's developing understanding of the standards and rules of their social world and their growing understanding of others' feelings.…

Maintains that early childhood teacher evaluation practices urgently need reform and that effective practices should (1) draw on multiple data sources, including peers, parents, children, administrators, and teachers themselves; (2) view teacher growth as an ongoing process; (3) examine individualized goals and methods; and (4) involve teachers as…

Discusses the problem of violence and its effects on children. Elaborates on two major goals of the National Association for the Education of Young Children: to decrease violence in children's lives by advocating for public policies and actions at the national level, and to commit the early childhood profession to helping children cope with…

Presents guidelines for providing suitable play and learning spaces for children from birth to 3 years old. Argues that toddlers have developmental needs different from those of older preschoolers, and that environments must be designed appropriately. Recommends that room arrangements for toddlers provide simplicity, options for seclusion and…

Describes successful practices and procedures for designing effective infant care programs for children born to teenage parents, including supervisory support for nurturing caregiver-child relationships, continuous staff training in infant development, low teacher-child ratios, active parent involvement, a child development curriculum, and…