In March 2005, Barry Carpenter, OBE, Chief Executive and Director of Research at Sunfield, an education and residential care centre for children with severe and complex learning needs, gave his inaugural professional lecture at University College Worcester. This article is based on that lecture. In it, Barry Carpenter reviews international trends…

This study investigated the effects of a family-centered intervention that involved parents in weekly assessments and daily routine activities for promoting young children's language and behavior. Forty-one 3-5-year-old children at-risk for language and behavior problems, recruited from three developmental preschools, were randomly assigned to a…

Offers 20 suggestions for improving parent involvement in their child's schooling at home and at school, and for improving school-home communication. Home suggestions include asking parents to read to and with children, assist them with homework, and help them start their own library. School suggestions include planning specific volunteer…

Discusses definitions of family; forms of language and communication; and beliefs about health, illness, and disability that need to be understood by those involved in early intervention programs for young children with disabilities and their families. (PCB)

This article presents a triadic interaction model that builds on and expands the strengths of the parent-infant dyad by providing contextual and interpersonal support for their interactions. The model gives explicit attention to the interactions among the three members of the early intervention triad: child, parent, and interventionist.…

This article describes techniques, used in a family-centered early intervention project, that both assist in accomplishing the goals of the Individualized Family Service Plan process and create opportunities for families to display their present competencies and acquire new ones to meet the needs of their children with communication disorders.…

This article discusses the importance of using a family-centered approach in early childhood intervention and practices that integrate child assessment within the context of the family. Strategies for developing an integrated approach within the different components of the assessment process are described. Principles for assessments with family…

This article identifies themes of continuity and change related to the well-being and development of infants and toddlers. The author describes several particularly striking changes over the last 25 years of research and practice in early childhood development. (1) The infant-family field has grown in many professions from a marginal area to a…

Although teachers face increasing pressure to focus on academics in kindergarten, research indicates that promoting school success in young children involves integrating skills in multiple domains. For example, by using dialogic reading--a well-researched shared-reading technique--and books with strong social-emotional content, teachers can…

This brief informational flyer presents practical information on the transition from an early intervention program into a preschool program for parents and teachers of young children who are deaf blind. It provides information on: (1) the laws that affect a child with disabilities when he/she turns 3 years of age; (2) the transition process from…

Interviews with 19 parents explored perceptions of major issues in their handicapped child's transition from a specialized preschool classroom to regular kindergarten. Among results was that parents indicated the greatest satisfaction with parent-teacher conferences and the least satisfaction with amount and type of school and classroom…

Attempted to bridge home and school literacy contexts by involving families in literacy activities with their children to enhance children's achievement and interest in reading and writing. Activities included literacy centers in classrooms, teacher modeled literature activities, and writing and reading appreciation periods (WRAP). Results…

Emphasizes that early intervention collaboration between families and service providers yields benefits for all involved. Provides tips for strengthening communication with families, focusing on building relationships with fathers. Highlights ways to support and involve fathers through program practices and policies, staff education efforts, and…

Discusses the importance of involving parents and families in their young child's assessment. Offers suggestions for early childhood educators to: explain the evaluation process to families, explain the particular assessment tool, ask questions to validate the assessment process, explain results, address difficult issues, and provide resources to…