This paper examines the educational philosophy underlying Waldorf Education, focusing on Rudolf Steiner's concept of "vital" or etheric energy and comparing Piaget's and Steiner's stages of cognition. The paper begins with a discussion of school readiness and the trend toward lowering the school entry age, and maintains that this trend…

The 2-part student workbook for mainstreamed learning and mentally disabled high school students contains 12 units intended to provide supplementary instruction in the Contemporary Parenting Choices Curriculum in the home economics class. This unit, the second in the Child Care part of the workbook, focuses on understanding child growth and…

Incorporating elements of humanist, Piagetian, psychodynamic, and behaviorist perspectives of child development, this guide for preschool teachers explores several topics related to curriculum planning for 4-year-old children. Chapter 1 points out the significance of the curriculum study, defines terms, and identifies assumptions and limitations…

To assist the North Carolina League of Middle/Junior High Schools, this paper briefly surveys the literature on developmental characteristics of early adolescents and the characteristics of effective teachers and also discusses the implications of the findings for instruction and the curriculum. The authors first define early adolescence as the…

This paper presents guidelines for family support programs prepared for the Child and Family Resource Program (CFRP) and other child development programs. Section I contains a brief description of the CFRP philosophy, a listing of CFRP's long range goals, detailed objectives/minimum performance standards for implementing each of these goals, and…

The degree to which under nourishment exists in a local community such as San Diego, California, and in the U.S. at large, and whether it is severe enough to interfere with brain development is the focus of this report. After establishing criteria for nutrition intake that would represent unambiguous jeopardy to brain development, these criteria…

Volumes have been written on the socially disadvantaged. Two theories related to the disadvantaged have evolved: the first is the "deprivation theory" which stresses the importance of an enriched environment, during the early years, on the cognitive and emotional development of the child; the second is "the cumulative intellectual deficit theory,"…

This pamphlet presents articles and papers which explore the role of a good kindergarten in the mental, physical and social development of the child. The importance of the preschool years, when the foundation of learning is laid, is emphasized throughout the publication. Individual articles by educators discuss a variety of topics, including early…

Argues that building respect for the core value of diversity should be a prime motivation and consideration in determining the instructional programs as well as the governance of the classroom and activities of the middle level school. (SRT)

With input and recommendations from physicians, health care professionals, and parents, this book for parents, grandparents, and child caregivers provides numerous interesting facts, pages of useful information, and listings of resources to guide and inform anyone who cares for children. Section 1, on child health care, provides a brief history of…

In this position statement, the National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education asserts that recess is an essential component of education and that preschool and elementary school children must have the opportunity to participate in regular periods of active, free play with peers. The statement summarizes…

This book analyzes the MacArthur Longitudinal Twin Study, a collaborative study by leading developmental scientists and behavioral geneticists on the transition from infancy to early childhood. Part 1 of the book describes the twin method and procedures used and introduces the analytic strategies. Parts 2 through 4 present results related to…

This article focuses on the importance of school readiness to school success and long-term life success. Issues relating to school readiness include what constitutes readiness, types of fundamental knowledge, how children approach learning, children's mental and physical health, and how readiness is defined. The article first examines what is…

Noting factors that have contributed to an increased emphasis on developmentally responsive middle level schools, this revised monograph examines early adolescence as a developmental period and explores the physical, psychosocial, and cognitive characteristics of 10- to 15-year-olds. In addition, the monograph provides recommendations concerning…

Argues that to truly educate the whole child, teachers must address the needs of the mind and spirit in terms of the social/emotional, creative, and cognitive domains and the many ways in which movement promotes development in these areas. Provides sample activities and sources for information to that end. (Author/SD)