Discusses how adversity provides opportunities for personal and professional growth. Notes benefits of adversity, including enhanced skills and insights, sense of accomplishment, balanced perspective, increased productivity and efficiency, increased sensitivity to others, enhanced sense of humor, better priorities, and personal and professional…

Describes Erikson's theory of developmentally appropriate curriculum and the eight stages of the life cycle. Provides brief descriptions of these stages and some possible professional applications that early childhood educators can use in pursuing professional development. (MOK)

Discusses gossip in early childhood settings as a threat to professionalism. Identifies reasons for staff gossip, provides guidance for developing an anti-gossip program policy, and presents an activity to distinguish gossip and shared information. Discusses how directors can influence parents' discussions with staff and get staff to confront each…

Suggests ways directors can create a climate to reduce and resolve conflict, including assessing the work environment, improving communication, understanding different personalities involved, and understanding the negotiation process. Applies the process to particular scenarios of early childhood staff conflict. Asserts that how directors deal…

The purpose of this study was to examine what, if anything, caregivers and teachers of 3- to 5-year-old children from the U.S. (n = 412), China (n = 244), Taiwan (n = 222), Korea (n = 574), and Turkey (n = 214), had in common in terms of self-reported beliefs and self-reported practices related to the National Association for the Education of…

This study compared the beliefs of parents of preschoolers, kindergarten teachers, and child care providers in North Carolina about the characteristics children should have upon entry to public school kindergarten. Surveys were administered statewide through in-person or telephone interviews to 757 parents (half receiving public assistance), 575…

This paper reviews the history of the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, created in 1972 to meet the growing need for skilled child care workers to provide quality programs for young children in the United States. A pilot program was launched in 1974, leading to the granting of CDA credentials in 1975. Since 1976 over 60,000 CDA…

A study guide for the Child Development Associate (CDA) Professional Preparation Program, this book contains essential information on the basics of good professional practice for early childhood educators. It includes self-study activities, checklists, and resources for additional information. Unit 1 provides an overview of the early childhood…

A study guide for the Child Development Associate (CDA) Professional Preparation Program, this Spanish-language guidebook contains essential information on the basics of good professional practice for early childhood educators. It includes self-study activities, checklists, and resources for additional information. Unit 1 provides an overview of…

This booklet explains why and how child care workers should unionize. Chapter 1 outlines the individual and professional advantages of unionization and traces the history of unions and the American labor movement. Chapter 2 presents 12 steps in organizing a work site. It is proposed that child care workers: (1) explore and promote interest in…

A case is made for the use of computer assisted instruction (CAI) in Child Development Associate (CDA) training programs conducted on-campus in conjunction with an educational curriculum or conducted off-campus in conjunction with child care programs. The following points are made: (1) CAI can be used to supplement and amplify a teacher's…

Research conducted on Child Development Associate (CDA) training in HSS Region III during the past 2 years has attempted to analyze this form of adult education by combining some aspects of life-span research with aspects of more traditional adult education research. This report provides a brief update on two types of research: research on the…

All day care personnel (about 900) in a Swedish commune answered a questionnaire concerning attitudes toward child rearing. The questionnaire consisted of 10 short descriptions of daily day care situations representing a child rearing dilemma which could be solved in different ways. Respondents indicated their views of typical and preferred ways…

This paper describes the state of training, licensing, and certification of early childhood personnel in the state of Washington. Arguing that presently in the state there is no set of regulations dealing with both certification and/or licensing of personnel working in early childhood programs, the author recommends a coordinated effort in…

Citations of Child Development Associate (CDA) curricula and supplemental resource materials are included in this annotated bibliography published by the CDA Clearinghouse. The materials are grouped according to the six CDA competency areas, the bilingual/bicultural training competencies, the personal capacities (social skills), and general…