Noting that there is little information available about how child and teacher characteristics are related to child engagement behaviors, this study examined the effects of child characteristics on observed engagement in early childhood settings, and the interaction effects of child characteristics and teacher interaction behaviors on observed…

Started 25 years ago by a group of parents in Madison, Wisconsin, the Red Caboose is one of the oldest independent day-care centers in the United States. This book recounts observations of the activities at the center for 1 year, exploring what makes a good day care center successful and what obstacles a center is up against. Interspersed among…

Argues that understanding of five major dimensions of normal child development can be useful for those who work with special children: child development theories, norms, research models, intervention models, and communication techniques. (RH)

An action research study examined the influence of the Effective Early Learning Quality Evaluation and Development Process on British preschool playgroup practitioners and their practice. The collaborative action approach to developing practice empowered the practitioners and enhanced their professional development. This in turn had a positive…

Maintains that preschool children can develop basic musical knowledge/concepts that include steady beat, tempo, melody, and volume through such musical activities as the singing of developmentally appropriate songs. (BB)

The relationships of 441 children with their mother and preschool teacher were assessed and classified in 3 categories. Children in the secure relationship category had more responsive teachers than other children. Children in the ambivalent relationship category had more responsive teachers than children in the avoidant relationship category. (BC)

Assessed the relationship of selected personal and job-related variables to burnout in teachers of young children. The Maslach Burnout Inventory and a questionnaire were administered to 363 day care teachers. Burnout and competence were identified as factors supporting the concept that burnout is multidimensional. (Author/GLR)

Studied parent-staff communication during morning and afternoon transition times in 16 proprietary day care centers. Found that communication varied by center, and communication occurred more between parents and staff of infants and toddlers than parents and staff of preschoolers. Age differences may have been a result of staffs' rather than…

Discusses the relevance of research findings on the effect of child-directed learning strategies for learning-disabled preschool children. Considers the generalizability and educational implications of the findings, and notes the need for greater practitioner involvement in the research. (JPB)

Examined emergent literacy in preschool children, interviewing low-income parents and observing children whom preschool teachers predicted would make either good or poor literacy progress. The study investigated what parents did with their children before primary school. Most children had rich literacy experiences, often specifically targeting…

Examined preschool educators' perceptions of learning and behavioral problems of children who were prenatally exposed to drugs, as well as intervention strategies and other issues in educating these children. Found that respondents had generally positive attitudes about working with these at-risk children. (JPB)

Observed in a preschool classroom adult-child and child-child interaction normally considered pre- or early-gender segregation (30-42 months) to explore possible root causes of gender segregation during childhood. Found that adult-child social interactions initiated by female children were very different from those initiated by male children.…

Used focus group discussion and classroom observations to compare whether early childhood teachers' reported use of timeout as a discipline method was congruent with classroom behavior. Found that the verbal responses of the five teachers observed were very congruent with what they carried out while teaching. (Author/KB)

Details visit that demonstrated education principles of preschools in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Highlights six principles: (1) documentation to keep past alive; (2) relationality to understand how connections are built; (3) reciprocity to suggest different treatment of time; (4) collaboration to relate child to community; (5) transparency to build…

Describes the interactions among 4-year olds engaged in outdoor play at a preschool, where overnight rains filled the center's sand area and students improvised activities in the wet sand. Notes how, during the discovery exercise, students worked together as teams. Concludes that the measure of quality in early childhood programs must not be…