Surveyed staff in 38 Belfast preschools of various types regarding supports available for children with autistic spectrum disorder. Found that many had experience with children with autistic spectrum disorders and receive some advice and support from a range of professionals. Nearly all were committed to enrolling these children but felt that…

This article describes the Early Years Summit, meetings between kindergarten and preschool educators in New Canaan, Connecticut, to improve communication and foster collaboration. Outcomes included defining the kindergarten curricula and outlining expectations for children's preschool experiences. The Summit collaboratively drafted a statement of…

Describes how one preschool teacher teaches children to learn to take responsibility for themselves by allowing them to make choices and decisions in the classroom within the limits of the rights and choices of others. (BB)

Discusses activities of emergent preschool writers and editors involved in the Writing Table Project at the Child and Family Center of the University of Nevada at Reno. (BB)

Examined the views of both Chinese parents and Chinese teachers in Hong Kong concerning the purposes of early childhood education. Found that early childhood education in Hong Kong refers to kindergartens and nursery centers, and that this administrative division leads to community views whereby nurseries are perceived as being only child-minding…

Investigated student teachers' experiences using a phenomenographically oriented pedagogic theory to develop a better understanding of preschool children's life questions. Found that, following the intervention study, the students emphasized the importance of finding the child's point of view and of tackling the child's questions together, more so…

Examined links between theory-of-mind status among Singaporean and United Kingdom preschoolers and their social pretend play. Found that ratings by Singaporean and UK teachers yielded measures of facilitation, shared meaning, and thematic maintenance of interactive play. Rater nationality did not affect ranking patterns. Findings indicated a link…

Evaluated special needs referral system in an urban Head Start program. The Early Intervention Screening Profile completed by independent raters revealed that, in the first assessment, all referred children had speech/language problems, some also showing emotional or behavioral problems. Teacher-completed EISPs with a second sample identified over…

Notes that articulating existence and cause of referral biases is critical to more effective preschool services. Maintains that until high child poverty, exposure to violence, and shortage of safe and stimulating environments are addressed, escalating rates of serious child emotional/behavioral problems will continue. Asserts that we must question…

Compared the beliefs of preschool teachers, kindergarten teachers, and parents regarding children's school readiness in one mostly Hispanic and Black high-need urban school district. Found that parents held remarkably similar beliefs, regardless of ethnicity or education. Parents rated all classroom-related readiness resources such as…

In order to meet the NASPE (2002) "Active Start" guidelines for preschool age children, it is important to consider a number of factors. Preschoolers should have plenty of unstructured as well as structured (planned) physical play throughout each day. They are quite capable physically and should accumulate considerable practice of their…

There are many dimensions of play and play's significance for children's development and learning is often emphasized, but how do preschool teachers see children's use of computers in preschool? A qualitative study was done with 13 Swedish preschool teachers that had experience working with computers in preschool. The overall aim of this study was…

California continues to widen access to local child care and preschool programs--albeit in fits and starts--for a variety of families. About 65% of all four year-olds statewide now attend a preschool center. Government spends $3.6 billion on early care and education programs statewide, including a three-fold increase in state spending since 1996.…

This issue highlights seven distinct studies. The first study examines the perceptions of early childhood educators and elementary educators concerning their beliefs about young children and how those beliefs translate to practice. The second explores joint book reading among parents and very young children. The third investigates the importance…

The early childhood years serve as an essential foundation for subsequent literacy development. Despite the increased attention given to children's early literacy development, gaps remain in our understanding of what is actually taking place in child care programs across the nation. The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to assess the extent…