Child Development Associate (CDA) trainees are taught how to recognize symptoms of severe problems children may have which may interfere with academic or social growth in a preschool setting. Visual, learning, motor, hyperactivity and emotional problems are defined and symptoms of each problem are described. Attention is also given to helping CDA trainees understand ways of dealing with children with special needs. Procedures for referring special children for medical diagnosis are outlined. Instructional and behavioral objectives for learning activities are given. The teacher's materials include an instructor's activity outline, a set of instructor's directions, answer sheets, and information for field supervision activities. The student's materials include a trainee activity list, a glossary, a unit overview, lists of symptoms related to problems in vision, hearing, motor development, hyperactivity, and mental problems, as well as true-false tests, and guidelines for meeting the classroom needs of special children. (Author/RH)