Discusses ways child caregivers can help the children they care for cope with separation anxiety by preparing for transitions. Includes suggestions for preparing the classroom, helping children and parents become comfortable in the classroom, and using rituals to make transitions easier for children and parents at the beginning and the end of the…

Recognizes the importance of the caregiver/parent relationship and presents three steps for developing positive relationships with non-traditional families: (1) develop positive transitions; (2) know the issues; and (3) find resources to share with families. Provides advice and resource lists for general information, legal information, and…

Analyzed sleep-wake schedules and nap times in multiage infant-toddler groups through three case studies in Finnish day care centers. Found complex interactions among family daily patterns, day care patterns, and young children's sleep disturbances. Identified major differences in day care practices regarding sleep quality related to timing,…

Examines communication and discourse styles of African American family child care providers serving low-income families, particularly the advice and help offered to parents. Caregiver interviews reveal ways providers combine both mainstream professional ideas and more indigenous conceptions of communication strategies and help-giving to provide…

Examines the transition in child care from the infant room into the toddler room from the perspectives of the parents, the child, and the caregiver. Suggests strategies for easing the transition by moving the caregivers with the children, moving one caregiver to the toddler room, making transition gradual, and retaining the positive aspects of the…

Presents an overview on the relationship perspective in early childhood research, identifying the major research questions involved, and relating them to the papers presented in the remainder of the journal issue. (EAJ)

Highlights issues related to the increase of non- traditional families and challenges child care directors to learn about these families. Guides directors in developing good relationships with parents, children, and their own staff and provides a list of sample questions to get information. Includes a 16-item bibliography for further information.…

Discusses what parents in the 1990s need from child care and caregivers, including support, flexibility, and similarity in child-rearing attitudes. Suggests that caregivers keep these needs in mind--and strive to meet at least some of them--as a way to improve parent involvement in early childhood education. (HTH)

The concepts, causes, and issues surrounding maternal guilt have significant implications for early childhood professionals. Child care providers can assist parents in choosing appropriate child care; promote positive communication and rapport with parents; reassure parents that maternal anxiety is normal; promote understanding of the concept of…

Focusing on formal care arrangements, this literature review proposes that: (1) caregivers' ambivalent and critical attitudes toward parents are not surprising nor risky for children; (2) high rates of parental satisfaction with day care are a product of perceived marketplace constraints; and (3) documented low rates of caregiver-parent contact…

Discusses how caregivers can help parents of children with disabilities through the grieving process. Outlines the stages of grieving, focusing on parents' emotional response, and offers specific suggestions for teachers. Asserts that when caregivers are sensitive to the possibility that parents of children with disabilities are grieving, they are…

At some point in many children's lives, parents are faced with the difficult question, "What about child care?" Intended for both parents and providers, this guide is designed to help parents decide whether family child care is suited to their needs, guiding them through the process of choosing a provider and allowing them a look behind…

With increasing numbers of infants in need of child care, the demand for infant care programs has grown. This handbook was designed to meet the need for technical assistance regarding program components and workable practices geared specifically to infant and toddler care. Part 1 of the handbook, "Considerations in Infant and Toddler…

This report describing family day care in Denmark is based on discussions with early childhood professionals in Denmark. Regulations for conducting family day care are set out in national guidelines which focus on: (1) supervision of children and providers by a trained child care professional who oversees not more than 50 children; (2) selection…

The Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) launched the State Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (SECCS) Initiative to improve systems of care for young children. Early Care and Education (ECE) is one of five critical components in the initiative because early experiences set the foundation for future learning. ECE's importance continues to…