A growing number of state leaders believe that it is essential to expand high-quality early learning and development opportunities for all young children before they reach kindergarten. A key component of this strategy is providing access to voluntary, high-quality pre-kindergarten programs, especially for low-income children. Over the last few…

The purpose of the present study was to compare the understanding of conventional time concepts by urban preschool children reared in poverty with that of their peers not raised in poverty. The questionnaire used in this study was based on the original work of Ames. Thirty-six children ranging in age from three to five years of age participated in…

This study reports on research into a Local Authority initiative in York, in North Yorkshire which aimed to establish early education and childcare partnerships between its 51 primary schools and local early-years providers from the community-voluntary and private sectors in close geographical proximity to the schools. The initiative was named…

This paper discusses insights arising from a recent doctoral study in a New Zealand early childhood setting. I was interested in how young children learn to be part of the group and drawing on a socio-cultural framework carried out a qualitative case study to investigate the enculturation of young children into childcare settings. The particular…

The United States has achieved nearly universal access to education and has witnessed a phenomenal growth in the number of children who attend child care programs. In addition, researchers and practitioners are making notable advances in the field of early childhood music. Many preschools, however, feel pressure to accelerate learning for young…

The regulatory environment in which long daycare centres are required to operate plays a key role in determining what early childhood professionals do and how they go about doing it. This paper reports findings from a state-wide survey undertaken in New South Wales, Australia, which shows how early childhood professionals position themselves on…

Noting that there has been no national policy on child care, Canada has relied on non-profit organizations and privately owned businesses to provide most of its child care services. Historically, federal funding policies and provincial choices have produced wide differences across the country in the distribution of non-profit, for-profit and…

Offers guidelines for putting a monetary value on a child care business. Discusses reasons for valuing the business, types of valuations (book, liquidation, and fair market), fair market valuation formulas, the corporate valuation, valuing assets included in a sale, and using experts. Also offers several tips for selling a child care business. (EV)

Examines reasons for slowed growth in employer child care over the past two years. Discusses the impact of the economic recession, organizational changes in the largest employer child care management organizations, international acquisitions of the Bright Horizons child care organization, flexible options for the child care benefit, and the…

Suggests ways to improve the success of substitute preschool teachers, including orienting the substitute to the program schedule, curriculum, and other aspects of the position and program; making the substitute feel valued; and preparing staff to work with substitutes. Includes samples of a substitute fact sheet and evaluation form. (JPB)

Professionals in family and consumer sciences (FCS) encounter children with an autism diagnosis more frequently than they did in the past, but often have had no specific preparation for working with this population. The Paula and Anthony Rich Center for the Study and Treatment of Autism at Youngstown State University was established to improve the…

Planning and tending a garden can be a great deal of fun. The opportunity to act as creator can be very appealing. However, anyone who has gardened for long has learned the necessity of accommodating nature and has developed a sense of humility in the process. Growing a center takes time, skill, and patience. In this article, the author presents…

Directors are in a key position to give centers an overall boost by holding fundraisers. As state and federal support decreases and budgets continue to shrink, there is growing pressure to supplement budgets with monies from other sources. Fundraising can provide a solution and boost the bottom line. While it may seem intimidating and time…

In early childhood settings, children spend over 50 percent of their time on handwashing, dressing, napping, and other routines and transitions. "Routines and Transitions" is a guide to help turn these routine daily activities into learning experiences. By using transitions wisely, providers not only help children develop skills, but also run a…

As the current K-12 generation approaches societal maturity they will encounter issues that are changing almost as fast as they are identified. Fast on the heels of the elementary population are the pre-kindergarten children who will be facing an ever-changing global society. Business and educational leaders have called for universal preschool…