In many cultures, early child care and education has been considered the purview of women, who were thought to be more nurturing and better suited to the role. Hand-in-hand with this notion is the historical misconception that early child care and education is unimportant, and that the most valued members of society should focus on other, more…

The well-being of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS is often significantly compromised, as they are prone to discrimination, victimization, and exclusion from social and familial structures. The present study examines the effect of HIV/AIDS on children's attitudes toward learning, as perceived by teachers and caregivers. Teachers and caregivers from…

Reviews research on how stress affects young children and how it can be managed. Provides information on internal and external sources of stress, symptoms of stress in children, the four stages of stress experienced by children (alarm, appraisal, search for a coping strategy, and implementation of the strategy), and stress prevention and…

Presents a digest of basic developmental information about children's feeding skills and behaviors, and gives general feeding recommendations. Also addresses requirements for feeding children with developmental disabilities and chronic medical conditions for which adapted environments or monitored nutrient intake may be necessary. (ET)

Examines caregiver attitudes toward toddler conflict and considers ways to facilitate conflict resolution to promote toddler growth, learning, and social development. Suggests that the ways caregivers intervene often do not promote resolution between children. Presents prevention and intervention strategies and discusses implications for practice…

Reviews five articles on infants and toddlers and the adults who care for them. Includes discussions of caregiver stability and attachment behavior; infants' sensory abilities; alternative public schooling for pregnant teenagers; and the psychosocial, behavioral, and developmental characteristics of toddlers prenatally exposed to cocaine. (DR)

A shortcoming of traditional caretaking models is an emphasis on telling children what not to do. The adaptive alternatives caretaking approach is based on behavior shaping: it minimizes blaming, breaks problems down to manageable size, makes children partners in problem solving, and creates positive relationships by focusing on alternative…

Offers suggestions to caregivers for creating successful literacy experiences for infants and toddlers in all types of group settings. Explores research on parental behavior during book-reading experiences and provides guidelines for caregivers. Also offers advice on designing a center's physical environment and selecting children's books. (EV)