What is the motivation to fill each waking minute of the day with activities and events and to excel at everything? Are we trying to create the "superkid," defined as "a child pressured by parents and by society to do too much too soon?" Are parents overcompensating because they feel guilty about the time they spend working or away from home?…

Children, particularly young children, demonstrate characteristics of giftedness in many different ways. These characteristics manifest themselves based on gender, experiences, cultural identity, personal passions and interests, and family or community. Gifted children develop asynchronously. Morelock (2000) stated that "asynchrony in the gifted…

Navigating the parenting role is tricky at the best of times but, finding one's way with a child that has special needs is even more demanding and difficult. This is a path that may not have been traveled by family and friends. Loneliness, disappointment, frustration, and a sense of failure can make the journey miserable. The challenges can become…

In this accessible and honest look at homeschooling, the author explores the diverse faces of homeschooled students and the ways in which it can help children with special learning needs. She corrects misconceptions through profiles of diverse families and addresses the changing and complex needs of children today. This book addresses the major…

Foster parents face many challenges in caring for children in foster care. Perhaps the major challenge is to achieve a caring environment for children who have experienced trauma and much change. Thus, this article provides ideas and strategies for nurturing foster parents toward a caring relationship with their children.

The information in this booklet has been developed in response to the many questions and concerns of parents whose children are nearly old enough to enter kindergarten in Nebraska. Questions answered include: What is kindergarten? When may a child enter kindergarten? Are children required to begin school when they turn 5-years-old? What about…

Notes the difference between "properly" stimulated and "expensively stimulated" or "over" stimulated when it comes to providing an environment for infant brain development. Highlights the effectiveness of just talking to a child. Suggests that more important than a particular toy is that parents be attuned to the kind…

Traditionally, stress has been defined in terms of its sourceinternal, such as hunger, pain, sensitivity to noise; and externalseparation from family, change in family composition, exposure to conflict or violence. Although the research literature tends to focus on the impact of single-variable stressors on children's development, in real-life…

Discusses the lack of agreement among experts on the best way to deal with infant and toddler sleep problems. Includes discussion of the "family bed" and the science of sleep, acknowledging that each child is different and families must find a solution that works best for them. (HTH)

Discusses how practitioners and external groups can help promote child-centered care for infants and young children. (CI)

This document compiles several fact sheets, in multiple languages, for mothers and parent educators providing information and answering questions concerning breastfeeding infants. The fact sheets are published in English, French, and Spanish, and cover the following topics: (1) "Recommended Practices To Improve Infant Nutrition during the…

Because children experience grief in a variety of contexts, adults need a guide through the maze of thoughts and feelings that loss evokes for themselves and their children. This guide seeks to empower parents, educators, clergy, and health care professionals to handle children's loss and grief issues in an informed, open, and loving way, reducing…

Explores the benefits of touch and affection to infant development, noting that in addition to psychological benefits, touch is an important stimulus to the central nervous system. (HTH)

Confidential surveys reveal that 20 percent of American parents say they have a child at home who is so difficult it is nearly impossible to lead a normal life. Noting that to regain control, parents must first see clearly the many forces at work both around their families and within themselves, this book advises parents how to become better…

This training guide is designed to enable parents and early childhood staff and managers to support and facilitate infant and toddler transitions through responsive relationships that are secure and consistent. The guide defines transitions during the first 3 years of life from developmental and relational perspectives that include changes that…