This book provides a holistic overview of what leads to success in foreign language learning at an early age and deepens our understanding of early foreign language learning. The studies use an array of methodological approaches to research learners aged between three and ten, as well as their parents and teachers, in instructional, minimal-input…

This edited collection presents a selection of contributions made to the 13th eLearning Symposium, held at the University of Southampton, in January 2020. Our theme was 'Education 4.0 revolution: transformative approaches to language teaching and learning, assessment, and campus design', and attendees engaged in rich discussions around the…

An increased emphasis on an early start in group day care and educational settings for young children means that by the time children enter statutory education, they may already have had several transitional experiences: each will have an impact. This book explores early transitions from a variety of international perspectives. Each chapter is…

Even though current wisdom holds that adoptive parents should talk with their child about adoption as early as possible, no guidelines exist to prepare parents for the various ways their children might respond when these conversations take place. This book discusses how young children make sense of the fact that they are adopted, how their…

This book looks at children's early development through what are called "touchpoints": times just before a surge of rapid motor, cognitive, or emotional development when, for a short time, children regress in several areas and become difficult to understand. Part 1, called "Touchpoints of Development," is organized around the…

This book describes the process whereby children born into a bilingual community learn to use one or two languages (Welsh and English). Twelve chapters include the following: (1) "How Do Children Acquire Language?" (e.g., theories of language development); (2) "Where Do You Find Bilingual Children?" (e.g., bilingual…

There are few bodies of research that can inform thinking about the education of young children with respect to gay-headed families. This 3-year ethnographic study used interviews with lesbian and gay parents of 3 to 7 year-olds, their children's teacher and the school administrator, and observations of the children to examine the relationship…

This book, designed for teachers, parents and caregivers, discusses the development of self esteem, competence, and sense of belonging in children. The development of self concept is traced from early infancy through adolescence. Specific topics include reinforcement, imitation, the relationship between self-concept and achievement, sexual…

The guide for new parents of infants with Down's Syndrome contains 11 entries by parents, pediatricians, and educators. The following topics are addressed: typical initial parental reactions; the causes and effects of Down's Syndrome; reactions of 18 pairs of parents initially and after at least 1 year of living with their child; guidelines on…

This book presents the results of research on sociopsychological factors that affect the schooling process and academic achievement among young children. The first chapter of the report provides a background on schooling, and reviews what is known and what remains to be discovered about academic achievement. Chapters 2 and 3 review research on…

A central component of the Children Act 1989 in Great Britain is sponsored care, the purchase by local authorities of places for individual children in voluntary and private day care facilities. The book details a study examining how private and voluntary day care services such as childminders, preschools, and day nurseries are used by local…

Though not a new concept, child effect has yet to be integrated into mainstream research. This book offers a review of what is already "known" but generally ignored in the area of how children affect their parents, what kinds of children most affect their parents, and what characteristics in parents make them especially vulnerable to…

This report details findings of a study undertaken during 1993-1995 in the Ghanzi District of Botswana to ascertain the progress of the San children in primary school, comparing children who attended preschool to those who did not. The report also describes the Bokamoso Preschool Programme, started in 1986. Data for the study were collected…

With the advent of "perestroika" and "glasnost," Russian childcare and education underwent a transitional period in practice and theory. Contrasting impressions from an earlier visit under the Communist regime, this book describes the experiences of Jean Ispa in her travels to Russia, observing children in six child care…

Numerous studies have shown that viewing media violence encourages aggression, desensitization, and pessimism in children. This book reviews research on the effects of television and movie violence on children and adolescents, offering parents suggestions for dealing with the problems it creates. It is asserted that parents frequently…