Queer theory is a new theory about gender. It is relevant to early childhood educators who wish to find new ways of understanding and challenging persistent gender stereotypes. The theory links gender stereotypes to the norms of heterosexuality. It is definitely "not" a theory about gay and lesbian identity. Queer theory is "queer" because it…

The high level of acceptance in US society of the preschool years as a critically important time for building early literacy skills has led to a flurry of activity in early childhood research and policy. The National Early Literacy Panel (NELP) report "Developing Early Literacy" (2008) is one example of this activity. The NELP report is…

The two most influential environments in which young children develop are their homes and their early childhood education programs. In 2005, 60 percent of all U.S. children under age 6 spent some time in the care of persons other than their parents, including 62 percent of White children, 69 percent of Black children, and 49 percent of Hispanic…

Provides an overview of research on the effects of maternal employment on child behavior and development. (CM)

Some 23 books for nursery school to fifth grade pupils are reviewed. (DS)

Reviews children's books that oppose violence, affirm similarities and differences among individuals, value cultural variety, and focus on solving problems peaceably. Indicates stories of a peaceful, soothing nature. (RH)

Reviews the literature on children and the threat of nuclear war, focusing on four areas: awareness of nuclear weapons, fear of the bomb, influences on personality, and denial of the threat. The research is briefly critiqued, and implications for early childhood are drawn. (RH)

The fact that males outperform females on specific spatial tests is not generally disputed, but the explanations for these differences are controversial. This paper highlights unresolved issues, such as definitions of space and measurement of abilities, and illustrates problems of interpretation of research regarding sex differences. (Author/HS)

Reviews theories and research findings on intrinsic motivation for young children and suggests ways for parents and educators to facilitate children's development in this area. (Author/BJD)

Presents guidelines for planning musical experiences for young children. Describes research and learning experiences related to listening, hearing, singing, and movement skills. (BD)

Authors explore some newly developed concepts about learning and discuss the influence of these concepts on current investigations of cognitive development in children. (HS)

Discusses Kellogg's four distinguishable stages of children's early art development as reflected in scribble art. (MP)

This article states that the human element is often minimized in planning optimal environments for infant day care, and examines mother-infant interaction research in order to delineate current areas of exploration and to synthesize findings for those interested in upgrading the quality of infant day care. (CM)

Reviews research about the stepfamily, stepfathers, stepmothers, and stepchildren; discusses complexities of blended families; and points out how teachers can effectively support stepchildren experiencing family-related stress, work with parents from blended families, and coordinate intervention with counselors. (RH)

Reviews recent research offering guidance on how early childhood programs might strengthen ties with parents. Examines dimensions of parent and staff confidence in each other, and offers responsive strategies for engaging parents. Recommends provisions that would enable programs to work closely with parents. (KB)