Guided play, a balanced approach to involvement in play that includes child- and adult-direction in learning activities, holds great promise for children's effective and engaged learning in education. Recent studies in laboratory settings show benefits for academic and socio-emotional outcomes, while retaining a focus on child-centred exploration.…

The collection of papers contained in this special issue was elicited by a worldwide call for papers to explore settings that provided nature experiences for young children, with attention given to the effects that these initiatives have on the holistic development and environmental awareness of the children, as well as impacts on the teachers and…

Using a transnational framework, this paper focuses on four graduates of Gipsy Hill Training College (GHTC) for nursery school teachers in London, United Kingdom, in the early to mid-twentieth century. Firstly, I explore GHTC's progressive ideals and highlight ways in which its principal, Lillian de Lissa, encouraged students to "think…

In the early nineteenth century, governments began to develop specialized educational programs--kindergartens and infant or nursery schools--to give children a head start in life. These programs hinged on new visions of childhood that originated in England and Europe, but what happened when they were transported to the colonies? This book unwinds…

Early childhood professional organizations in Canada and the United States have evolved since leaders of the Kindergarten Department of the National Educational Association (NEA) met in Toronto in 1891. This meeting led to the creation of the International Kindergarten Union (IKU), now known as the Association for Childhood Education International…

The question and answer format of this booklet presents 35 questions about handwriting most often asked by teachers and parents. The answers that follow each question are derived from an earlier study of handwriting instruction undertaken in Ontario, Canada, schools. The questions in the first section of the booklet deal with current handwriting…

Describes the interactive literacy learning process in the home context, and compares this with the literacy interaction between the child and the kindergarten teacher. Concludes that children's literacy growth is a result of literacy activities in the home rather than a result of activities in the school. (MM)

Noting that in Canada, regulated child care and most other early childhood services are under provincial jurisdiction, this report is the fifth to provide statistical and other information on early childhood care and education services for each province and territory in Canada. Data were assembled from a variety of sources, including…

Noting that in Canada, regulated child care and most other early childhood services are under provincial jurisdiction, this report provides statistical and other information on early childhood care and education services for each province and territory in Canada. Data were collected by means of questionnaires sent to each provincial/territorial…

Describes the experiences of one kindergarten teacher implementing the Reggio Emilia approach at a new, private school in Canada. Includes descriptions of children's projects, struggles with documentation, the educational environment, and contributions of an early childhood university student who had been immersed in a program similar to Reggio…

Discusses the evolution of kindergarten and child care services in Quebec. Describes the state of preschool education and raises questions concerning the future of Quebec's preschool education. (RJC)

THIS REPORT WAS A SURVEY OF THE PROS AND CONS CONCERNING PRESCHOOL EDUCATION. THE INTRODUCTION WAS A DISCUSSION OF SOME OF THE HISTORY BEHIND THE PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS OF TODAY. IN THE NEXT PART OF THE REPORT IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT YEARS OF LEARNING ARE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 4 AND 6. JUNIOR KINDERGARTENS COULD THEREFORE HAVE GREAT…

Over 1000 out of 4000 preschoolers observed conserved identity of matter over time and roughly two-thirds of the 1000 also conserved equivalence. Follow-up showed no correlation between kindergarten conservation abilities and grade one math performance but significant correlations between equivalence conservation by end of kindergarten and grade…

This report is presented in three parts. Part 1 consists of synopses of the child care situation in 13 countries. For each country, the child care environment, including the philosophy and historical background of child care, appropriate legislation, and types of child care services provided, are discussed. School-age child care programs for…