This study examined the extent to which staff from 40 Early Head Start programs in six Midwestern states believed in and were able to implement six aspects of family-centered practice. Results indicated staff experienced difficulty in implementing family-centered practice and that the extent of staff beliefs and implementation were affected by…

Are children's same-sex affiliations due to genetically sex-linked behavioral tendencies or are they a result of power and privilege differentials in the larger society that discourage girls from engaging in cross-sex interaction? Sex cleavages in naturally occurring toddler peer groups were investigated by examining playmate preferences and…

Observed in group day care settings, responses to distress in peers were examined in 10 abused toddlers and 10 matched controls from families experiencing stress. Early development of "abusive" behavior patterns in toddlers who have been subjected to physical abuse and later behavior of abused individuals as parents are discussed in relation to…

This research brief outlines the characteristics of the current workforce serving children ages 3-5 years, and begins the discussion of the needs of the field to implement universal preschool in Massachusetts. Specifically, this brief addresses two questions about the workforce: (1) What are the characteristics, including educational…

This final report documents the activities and outcomes of the 3-year outreach project AHEAD (At Home & At Day Care). Over the course of the three years, AHEAD Outreach conducted eight AHEAD Trainers' Training Institutes that provided AHEAD trainers with up-to-date content in the early intervention field, training techniques, hands-on experiences,…

Offers examples of what infants and toddlers might do in early childhood settings, how these behaviors are related to mathematics, and what teachers can do to encourage the natural mathematical interests of this age group. Asserts that teachers' interactions with children are vitally important to children's understanding of early mathematics. (KB)

Discusses how and why accidents with toys happen and provides guidelines for selection of safe and developmentally appropriate toys. Covers selection of toys for infants, toddlers, and preschool children and includes a list of examples of unsafe toys and their manufacturers. (EV)

Describes the use of handmade cloth dolls without facial features with 2- and 3-year-olds as a framework for an arts-based emergent curriculum related to body awareness. Shows how children's interests guided the project activities. Discusses the teachers' role in maintaining the content level and interest, and the importance of out-of-classroom…

Specific linguistic characteristics of responses to requests for clarification given by 4 children (ages 3-6) with intellectual impairments were investigated. Analysis focused on children's ability to locate the specific errors that provoked neutral requests for clarification and produce repair. Three children could locate errors and partly…

Describes one child's fascination with the properties of water during indoor and outdoor activities and discusses how outdoor play allows toddlers to engage in leisurely investigations. Shows how outdoor play allows children to set challenges for themselves, become more engrossed, and less dependent on adults. (KB)

This two-phase study describes ways in which family day care providers perceived and implemented their caregiving practices. The study revealed that what family day care providers intended to provide for children--a loving, attentive, play-filled environment--was not consistently provided in practice. (Author/BB)

Discusses the importance of the outdoor play area for infant and toddler cognitive, physical and social development. Also discusses design, landscape and arrangement considerations for the play area. (RJC)

Discusses the problems that can occur when parents leave their children at a care facility, especially if the parents linger. Offers suggestions to make the daily separation easier for both parents and children. (ET)

Notes that a developmentally designed classroom environment supports children's individual and social development; encourages exploration, focused play, and cooperation; provides choices for children that support self-directed learning; and supports the caregiver-child relationship. Offers guidelines for a developmentally designed environment for…

A study of two year olds investigated the nature and development of children's early productivity with verb-argument structure and verb morphology. Results indicated that the children showed no signs of productive verb morphology, but they did use newly learned verbs in some creative ways involving nounlike uses and the appending of locatives.…