This paper discusses several types of ethical problems encountered by day care and preschool workers, and suggests guidelines for developing a code of ethics for early childhood practitioners. Topics dicussed include the meaning of a code of ethics; the need for such a code for early childhood practitioners; examples of ethical problems involving…

Summarizes 10 recent ERIC documents about accountability, standards, and professionalism in the area of young children's education and care. Each document is briefly annotated, and information for ordering the complete document is provided. (CB)

Noting that case stories are useful for early childhood teacher preparation and staff development because they present situations likely to be encountered by practitioners, this report provides a sample of the case stories developed through the Case Method of Instruction Outreach Project and available on a Web site for use by practitioners. Each…

A significant research base supports the positive benefits of quality early care and education (ECE) for later developmental and academic outcomes. Noting that many ECE settings are of mediocre quality and that quality of care is related to teacher/caregiver qualifications, this working paper examines states initiatives to improve the…

Presents five strategies used by child-care center directors when teachers' personal stress affects their job performance. Notes that most directors identify irritability with children and coworkers as a sign of stress. Their most common strategy is to recommend community resources to staff for counseling and help with problems. (Author/KB)

Draws on examples from a study of teachers' co-construction of definitions of curriculum in one New Zealand child care center to examine the influence of teachers' awareness of various early childhood education traditions/models and teachers' ideas about aspects of the center-based experience considered to be part of the curriculum. Concludes with…

Noting that staff guidance is an integral part of successful program administration, child- and youth-care administrators should understand the developmental level of the workers within the setting, note that workers' behavior may be attributed to individual traits or developmental characteristics, and understand that their reactions to workers'…

Reviews health concerns and considerations for pregnant child care staff and discusses elements to include when developing or revising parental leave policies and procedures. Summarizes the elements of an exemplary comprehensive leave policy and supports the positions presented with the related federal legislation. (AA)

Introduces "Beginnings," a 16-page, pull-out section that contains workshop materials for directors to use in teacher training. This issue of "Beginnings" deals with the theme of conflict resolution. (LB)

Examined convergent and discriminant validity of eight widely used preschooler, toddler, and infant temperament questionnaires. There was surprisingly strong evidence for convergence among scales intended to measure similar concepts, with most convergent validity coefficients falling in the .50s, .60s, and .70s. (SH)

Author of the landmark work "Baby and Child Care," Benjamin Spock changed how parents and indirectly professional caregivers raise children. Spock believed all infants are inherently good and discipline is mistakenly identified with punishment. He felt quality child care was essential to successful development and play for infants and…

Discusses ways child care personnel can develop a proactive customer service plan that meets families' needs and expectations while minimizing the probability of confrontations with angry parents. Outlines a five-step conflict-resolution strategy that offers a "win-win" approach for both parents and providers when problems do occur. (TJQ)

Suggests that cultural differences may be at the root of some conflicts between parents and child care directors or staff. Maintains that the way to identify cultural conflicts is to start ongoing dialog between parents and staff. Notes that staff need to identify their own attitudes and biases and be open to parents' perspectives without…

Discusses the rationale for preservice training for child care workers and outlines elements of an effective preservice training program. Maintains that successful programs teach new caregivers to: identify developmental stages of children; use positive guidance techniques; plan age-appropriate activities; promote health and safety; foster…

Suggests an alternative to typical practices of new staff orientation: one week of paid orientation without direct responsibility for children so they can experience the program vision in action and practice assuming their role within it. Details strategies involved in this approach and encourages directors to calculate the cost of turnover in…