Compared group and individual interviews to determine views of staff and 40 parents from four Scottish preschool centers. Found that parents' priorities for their children lie in the emotional and social domain and that they want a warm and homelike experience. Argues that staff should harness this parental "force" to resist pressures…

Discusses developmental characteristics and needs of kindergarten children; environments that meet these children's needs; and the roles of kindergartens, public schools, and society in meeting the needs of kindergarten children. (Author/BB)

Examines research that pertains to the use of space, time, and task activities in water play in nurseries. Identifies factors in water play which support quality play and learning. (BC)

Presents the relationship between Iceland's early childhood curriculum and important elements of its culture, such as population size, weather, terrain, language, literature, and cultural celebrations. Discusses the influence of foreign ideas on Icelandic educational thought and provides information on college curriculum for early childhood…

Claims that incorporating children's native language into school curriculum can make these languages integral to the learning process. Suggests that a responsive, language-rich curriculum encourages creative and effective communication and learning. Emphasizes that language learning and sharing are the essence of the additive model as opposed to…

Challenges teachers to question their teaching practices and views regarding children's learning. Discusses issues related to curriculum design to ensure a wide range of open-ended activities; to manage and organize the environment to meet individual interests and needs; and to assess, record, and report on real-life contexts and their learning…

Claims that creativity can be nurtured in young children using the appropriate creative environment, such as schools with creative programs, continuous enrichment of the environment, and creative teachers and creative ways of teaching. Concludes that the most powerful possibility of nurturing creativity in an individual lies in interaction with…

Defines early literacy in terms of literate language, a register of language typified by verbally explicated meaning and talk about talk. Explores various social arrangements which support children's use of literate language. Examines the roles of diverse and close social contacts, and the ways in which individual differences mediate these…

Claims that the influence of Chinese culture on its kindergarten curriculum is expressed in its ideological and philosophical base as well as in its goals, content, teaching methods, organization, and evaluation. Presents traditional Chinese values and their effect on education, and describes curriculum changes that occurred in the 1980s with the…

Examines reasons behind very low attendance of fathers at primary level family literacy events in Great Britain. Discusses rapid social and demographic changes, the sex- segregated power structure in education, the gendered nature of parental involvement in education, and the nature of family literacy events. Concludes that the environment of…

Argues that all children have the right to a safe environment in which to learn, and the right to achieve their full human potential, no matter what their sexual orientation. Highlights needs of gay, lesbian, and bisexual students in schools. Examines challenges in personnel, curriculum, policies, and parental involvement facing…

Deals with the vulnerable position of nursery education in 1990s Britain, given the changing nature of the family in society and particularly in view of nursery education's weakly articulated justification in the face of government intervention in education. Discusses current standards of evaluation (OFSTED inspections) and achievement and the…