Describes a pilot program designed to strengthen children's transition from preschool programs to kindergarten. Discusses three major components: kindergarten registration drive for parents; a series of parent information nights; and kindergarten school visits over the course of the school year. Offers sample format for an hour-long kindergarten…

Presents suggestions for successfully including young children with "new" life-threatening, chronic illnesses -- various types of cancer, heart, liver, and kidney diseases -- in early childhood education classes. (BB)

Presents a summary of readers' responses to a survey on recurring ethical dilemmas in early childhood education: the dilemma concerns divorced parents and what early childhood educators can do that is most beneficial to the child when the noncustodial parent (mother) requests confidential information about the child and its father. (BB)

Presents a hypothetical dilemma illustrating the need for parent empowerment in early childhood education for use in applying the National Association for the Education of Young Children's Code of Ethics. Considers including parents in important decisions, honoring responsibilities to parents, and implementing the spirit of the code. Discusses…

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…

Presents an ecologically based training model to guide parents and teachers in reflecting on family involvement in early childhood programs. The two-phase process involves developing a philosophy of family involvement through brainstorming, identifying family involvement themes, and creating a philosophical statement, and examining roles shared by…

Describes the ensuing conflict when the book "Daddy's Roommate" was included as part of the preschool anti-bias curriculum. Discusses parent boycott, letters to parents, board discussions, and formation of a committee to propose solutions. Describes the voting plan based on position statements on both sides of the issue and how creating…

Discusses how one preschool boy with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) learned to compensate for his disability and to change his behavior after being integrated into a family day care setting which facilitated parent-provider teamwork. (BB)

Explores assumptions teachers make when planning parent involvement strategies and barriers to family involvement that result from these assumptions. Presents two tools designed to help teachers plan and carry out successful activities by identifying family-related factors that could limit or prevent family participation and making modifications…

Uses stories of families in one early childhood program to illustrate educators' challenges to communicate with families whose backgrounds are different from theirs, including low income families. Identifies strategies for supporting and involving families, including using empathy and patience to forge relationships, linking families with needed…

Suggests that teachers can work with children's families to study likenesses and differences in their respective cultures. Details a class project for 7- to 8-year-olds whereby children start with self-portraits and construct masks of their faces. Provides sample mask project timeline and steps for making masks out of paper molds and a…

Describes how preschools and elementary schools can establish a Family Lending Library to make available to parents books on the reading process, literacy, and child development, as well as books they can read to their children. The library can also contain videotapes, toys, and a variety of materials that address the uniqueness of each family.…

Identifies benefits of family involvement in the early childhood classroom for the child, parents, and teacher. Describes barriers to parent involvement: parent availability, parent and teacher awkwardness, schedule conflicts, and school resistance to full parent inclusion. Provides six principles for involving parents in their children's…

Contends that educators and caregivers are still constrained in relationships with parents, respond with resentment and stonewalling when parents express uneasiness about pedagogical practices, and too frequently treat parents and children from other cultures differently. Suggests that true dialog may transform practitioners as educators, children…

Discusses the importance of educators' partnerships with colleagues, including the role of a shared sense of mission in the work environment. Considers the importance of providing highest quality services for children and their families and a healthy and supportive work environment for adults. Suggests that practitioners and parents need to…