In this article Tanika Simpson reflects on her experience at the 2012 three-day ZERO TO THREE National Training Institute (NTI) held in Los Angeles, California. The week began with a two-day pre-NTI retreat convening a national league of state Infant Mental Health Associations that are intensely committed to the work of implementing Michigan's…

From an early age, so much emphasis goes into teaching children the fundamentals of color theory, in particular the primary colors of red, yellow, and blue. Toys, building blocks, furniture, and so many other items used in a preschool environment are manufactured in these three colors. Yet, recent research has uncovered that babies as young as…

In this essay, Susan Engel argues that curiosity is both intrinsic to children's development and unfolds through social interactions. Thus, it should be cultivated in schools, even though it is often almost completely absent from classrooms. Calling on well-established research and more recent studies, Engel argues that interactions between…

Children's early word learning is not usually considered creative in the same sense as artistic productions of later life. Yet early word learning is a creative response to the intrinsic instability of word meaning. As the child acts to participate in her community, she strives for intersubjectivity, manifest in neologisms and under- and…

Babies are active participants in their learning and need to explore a variety of objects. Nurturing relationships support these explorations. Objects are more clearly remembered and understood. Thus, one activity this article suggests doing with a 12-month-old to encourage abstract thinking, is talking about how squeezing the bottle of ketchup…

Although there is a general agreement about the need for limits, structure, and guidance in a child's life, there is a strong difference of opinion among many professionals about the best ways to meet these needs. Some believe in more educational approaches, explaining to children the "why" of it, while others favor very firm disciplinary…

Benefits of early intervention and the state of the art for services to special-needs infants and young children are described. An expanded federal role is recommended to encourage state programs including a phased-in mandate for service. Specific provisions of a federal mandate are discussed, including extension of P.L. 94-142 to birth.…

The authors question the assumption that parent participation is critical to the success of early intervention programs and cite the lack of research support for this notion in programs for young children with cerebral palsy. They note that financial considerations may still dictate the need for parent participation. (CL)

The relevance of the new National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities definition of learning disabilities is discussed in relation to the infant population. (Author/CL)

This response to a paper (EC 624 771) on the early development of stereotyped and self-injurious behavior in infants and young children examines possible reasons why so little is known about these behaviors. These include questions about what behaviors would indicate the need for intervention, how to determine if a repetitive behavior is aberrant,…

This article considers the very early development of a self in the infant and young child, using theories of Sigmund Freud. The vital role of relationships, especially the mother-child relationship, for the developing self is stressed. Stages of learning trust and inner controls are also addressed. (DB)

A mother reflects on the ordeals faced by her infant son who has heart and intestinal disorders and discusses the characteristics needed by mothers of disabled and chronically ill children. (CL)

This article on pediatric physical therapy first offers a historical perspective and then looks at the scope of clinical practice in the field, the field's scientific basis, and its theoretical foundations. (Author/DB)

Claims that Matthews sees independence as moving freely and being able to function apart from the adult, leading to competence and cognitive development for life. Reiterates the importance of emotion, relationships, and the mother as the central part of the child's prepared environment. (MOK)

This article presents calming activities and routines for children at different ages and stages. Honig discusses the different stages of arousal for children ages 0-2 and gives suggestions for ways to sooth fussy babies. Miller discusses calming activities and comforting environments for children ages 3-4, and recommends activities that require…