Forest kindergartens are a new idea in the United States but have been around in Germany, Norway, and other European countries for decades. Forest "kindergartens" are preschools for children ages 3-6 and focus on being outdoors and learning through interacting with nature. Instead of building with blocks or doing puzzles at a table…

A decade ago I wrote an article entitled "Technology as play" in which I called for early childhood educators to rethink the way in which they regard play. This involved not only incorporating the notion of playing with new technologies but also critiqued the essence of what constituted play and the link with learning that was viewed…

Although the common-core standards are calibrated to ensure that students leave K-12 schools ready for work and college, they are also posing challenges for the educators who work with children just starting out their school careers. As 46 states and the District of Columbia work this year to put the new curricular guidelines in place, preschool…

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which a preschool program followed the recommendations outlined by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) in their joint position statement "Early Childhood Mathematics: Promoting Good…

Argues that developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) as presented in the revised guidelines of the National Association for the Education of Young Children gives equal attention to age, individual, and cultural appropriateness, and therefore is appropriate for everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status, culture, race, gender, age, or special…

Suggests that the National Association for the Education of Young Children guidelines for developmentally appropriate practice are supported by modern values of stability and certainty. Maintains that there is a shift to a new world view, based on views that human beings are subjects; science cannot be value-neutral; and that context affects what…

Responds to Lubeck's critique of developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) guidelines and their underlying premises. Maintains that guidelines are a starting point for decision making, that not all DAP classrooms look the same, and that it is important for early childhood educators to be knowledgeable regarding developmental milestones.…

Maintains that research fails to capture the diversity in teaching. Advocates caution in assuming one correct child rearing or educational practice. Discusses whether categories such as developmentally appropriate practice or developmental stages are facts of nature, interpretations, or perspectives on social processes; and whether developmentally…

Reflects on the process of developing national curriculum guidelines for early childhood based on New Zealand's experience. Discusses how development involved complex interactions between the nature of early childhood in New Zealand and its history (setting), the opinions, ideas, and practice of current practitioners (consultation), and decisions…

This program advisory provides direction to school districts and providers of preschool and early primary programs in California who are implementing the recommendations of the School Readiness Task Force Report, "Here They Come: Ready or Not!" The Task Force Report addressed the issue of what kind of education would be necessary during…

This book is designed as a guide for implementing quality child care environments at preschool and school-age levels for children ages 1 through 10. Evolving from a child-centered philosophy, the book contains six integrated and interdependent sections that respectively, provide an overview of child care and discuss child care center design,…

This curriculum resource book provides a collection of practical ideas that preschool educators can use to provide developmentally appropriate learning experiences for children attending a high quality preschool center. The ideas are designed to concur with the format of standards C-L set forth in the related document: "Standards of Quality and…

This document presents curriculum guidelines intended for use as a recommended curriculum for children attending early childhood programs in Oklahoma. The introductory section describes critical characteristics of quality early childhood programs, noting that early childhood programs should be appropriate for the age, developmental level, and…