This paper explores the issue of how quality in early childhood services is defined and evaluated and examines some of the implications of working within a particular paradigm at a European level. The discussion begins with the concept of early childhood services, and how the approach to defining quality relates closely to the concept of service.…

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER PROGRAMS ARE TO HELP DISADVANTAGED PRESCHOOL CHILDREN LEARN TO WORK AND PLAY INDEPENDENTLY, TO RELATE WELL TO OTHER CHILDREN, TO DEVELOP SELF-IDENTITY, TO REALIZE OPPORTUNITIES TO STRIVE AND TO SUCCEED, TO BROADEN LANGUAGE SKILLS, TO BE CURIOUS, TO STRENGTHEN PHYSICAL SKILLS, TO DEVELOP CREATIVITY,…

A GUIDELINE FOR ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHING IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS FOR NURSERY SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN IS PRESENTED. IT LISTS EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES FOR A CLASS UNIT OF 15 CHILDREN. MANY OF THE ITEMS CAN BE MADE OR FOUND BY VOLUNTEERS. IDEAS FOR IMPROVISING AND FOR MAKING THE BEST USE OF EXISTING MATERIAL ARE INCLUDED. THE SUGGESTED EQUIPMENT…

This manual, designed to orient new assistant teachers to the principles and routines of the Pennsylvania Research in Infant Development and Education (PRIDE) project, a center-based program enrolling 43 children ages 12-38 months, contains a brief section giving background information on the project and the project's specific guidelines for…

This booklet of conference proceedings reflects the efforts of the Urban Research Corporation to continue conversation between industry and day care specialists. A group of 175 industry representatives, early childhood specialists, community agency representatives, and day care operators and franchisers convened to discuss their mutual concerns.…

This booklet identifies environments for pre-school learning. Each page may serve as a poster, a reminder of activities, or as a starting point for a training session. It includes an indoor and an outdoor section. The indoor section describes an art area, a music area, and a quiet area, a housekeeping area, free space for floor play, and a science…

Steps involved in developing a high quality child development program are outlined and discussed briefly. They are: (1) determining what kind of program to provide (information and referral, family-centered, community-centered or a combination); (2) establishing priorities (a priority checklist is included); (3) identifying existing resources in…

This essay is a critical overview of the ideology, politics, and implications of recent federal initiatives in parent education. (MM)

Young children think and learn differently, yet early childhood education is now subject to new pressures. Many believe that early exposure to technology accelerates mental development and improves sensory and mental capacity. There is no factual support for this idea. Children who grow up with technology are not necessarily more proficient with…

Discusses a blueprint for a comprehensive community-wide day care program. (BB)

Compared a center-based early intervention program for disabled children and the same program with a parent training-support component. Found no immediate or long-term benefits in child or family functioning for parent component participants in the first four years of follow-up. Concludes however, that parents should still be involved in…

During the summer and on weekends, it is not unusual to see many children, the youngest holding their parents' hands, walking to classes amongst the beautiful landscaping and old buildings of Northwestern University on Lake Michigan's shores in Evanston, Illinois. The Center for Talent Development (CTD) has been offering services and programs to…

Under Israeli law, national health insurance covers basic health care for all of the nation's residents, but health services users have to copay for medications and therapy. This study examined whether the requirement to copay for therapy services among certain subpopulations influences their compliance with meeting rehabilitation therapy…