This study investigated associations between young children's behavior and the continuity of parent and provider behavior and attitudes. Subjects were 3- and 4-year-old children, their parents, and their family child care providers. A total of 29 children were observed in their homes with their parents and in the family child care homes with their…

This study used checklist and interview methods to assess the normative development of children's social function skills. Participants included a large, cross-sectional sample of parents of normal children ranging in age from 6 months to 7.5 years. Parents completed the checklist portion of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disabilities Inventory, a…

Intended to document the change in attitudes toward adults (parents and teachers) reading aloud to children since the late 1950s and to determine if the practice is strongly correlated to early fluency for young readers, this annotated bibliography also provides a research review, makes recommendations for reading aloud to children, and lists…

This student guide for a program on styles in parenting discusses how attitudes toward childrearing have changed over the past 50 years, how children are affected by some extreme approaches to childrearing, and how a parenting style that is neither overpermissive nor overprotective is most likely to enhance children's growth. Designed around a…

Focuses on three aspects of the young Puritan child in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries: how Puritan ideology influenced attitudes toward children; whether young children were seen as children or miniature adults; and early childhood education in New England, considering the role of the family, church, and school in socializing young…

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…

One of the programs funded by the Education Improvement Act in South Carolina was the child development program for 4-year-olds with readiness deficiencies placing them at risk for early school failure. This report presents the findings of three studies focusing on the characteristics of the child development programs and students, the academic…

Starting school is a transition marked by excitement, trepidation, happiness, or sadness for all involved. This issue of the Australian Early Childhood Association Research in Practice Series discusses some of the issues described as important by children, parents, and preschool and elementary educators in an interview study of children's…

This report discusses the outcomes of a study that compared family needs and sources of support perceived by 55 Puerto Rican mothers of young children (ages birth to 5 years) with disabilities residing in Puerto Rico and 39 of their Puerto Rican counterparts living in Florida. The relationship among perceived family needs, sources of support, and…

Argues that it has not been fashionable to value literacy stories from parents as a source of knowledge for interpreting the home literacy environment. Compares teacher descriptions of several at-risk children to their parents' literacy stories. Concludes that understanding multiple home literacy environments can help teachers think critically…

Focuses on ways to ensure sustained parental participation in the school's multicultural educational efforts. Includes suggestions for identifying parents' multicultural education needs, interests, and expertise; for supporting parents in fostering a multicultural home environment, extending children's multicultural literacy, participating in the…

Deconstructs case studies of parents' and teachers' experiences as children started child care. Argues that mothers and teachers defined their roles against the background of dominant societal discourses about motherhood and early childhood teaching. However, while teachers spoke about themselves as less powerful than mothers in influencing…

Data from 108 university students who intended to become parents and teachers showed that the gender of a young child elicited differential academic beliefs, and that female and male aspiring parents and teachers tended to have different academic beliefs about young children. Discusses the relationship between socialization practices and…

Considers the public's growing recognition that early childhood education is good for young children. Addresses misconceptions that education and care are different and that the purpose of early childhood programs is to prepare children for school. (BG)

Forty parents, representing five different Asian groups living in California and Colorado, were interviewed about their attitudes toward their children's education. Found that, in general, Asian parents are interested in their children's school progress and are willing to help at school. Suggests ways to help teachers capitalize on this interest…