Selecting competitive sports opportunities for a child is a challenging process. Parents have to make the right choices so that their young athletes will have many years of healthy, happy, active experiences. If parents make the wrong choices, their son or daughter will have, at the very least, a few unhappy hours, and worst-case scenario, could…

Every family wants to ensure a positive preschool foundation in order to build interest and success in the coming school years. Beyond an intuitive hunch, however, many families may not know exactly what to look for as they begin the search for a preschool. In response to both the perplexing nature and the significance of the task at hand, this…

The article discusses principles of selecting and maintaining hearing aids with appropriate amplification for children. Four case studies (with associated graphs) illustrate the high performance possible when aids and earmolds are properly selected and maintained. (DB)

Outlines the characteristics of a good caregiver and good surroundings for babies, examining the differences among different types of care, discussing costs, and suggesting ways to find an appropriate caregiving situation. (KS)

Factors that should be considered when choosing a music camp for students to attend are discussed. Questions that potential music campers and their parents should ask are provided. (RM)

To aid parents in selecting appropriate child care, this guide describes the kinds of public and private day care, prekindergarten, and kindergarten programs that are available in most communities in New York. After listing facts parents should consider concerning their own and their child's needs, the guide offers directions for finding locally…

Guidelines for selecting appropriate assistive devices which afford disabled individuals access to computers are presented. In general, the individual who is to use the computer must be evaluated first to ensure that the adaptive device makes the most efficient use of his/her muscle control, mobility, reflexes, etc. (CB)

Guidelines are offered for parents considering placing their children in day care. Contents concern: (1) information on finding high-quality day care providers; (2) safety tips for children in day care; (3) ways of detecting sexual abuse and exploitation; and (4) what to do if a child discloses acts of abuse and exploitation in the day care…

Piaget noted that young children cannot think in a logical fashion, objectively, or about hypothetical situations. These limitations of preoperational thinking render the young child dependent upon or bound by perceptions. Overreliance upon perceptions results in children's inability to distinguish fantasy from reality. Young children's…

This PTA report on child care in the 1990s offers advice to parents who face the dilemma of finding appropriate child care. Contents focus on: (1) America's child care crisis; (2) assessment of options; (3) a checklist on what to look for in a day care center; and (4) ways employers can help deal with the child care crisis. Included is a PTA…

A 20-item checklist is provided for parents assessing the quality of day care programs. Items include the following: (1) caregivers nourish children with body snuggling; (2) caregivers arrange safe, interesting learning experiences; (3) caregivers are keen observers; (4) child health and safety needs are met; (5) teachers encourage competency; (6)…

This booklet, which is designed to help parents make informed choices about the games and toys they purchase for their children, uses manufacturers' descriptions of their products to inform parents about the themes of toys intended for use in violent pretend play, and provides information about alternatives to excessively violent toys. Briefly…

Tips on purchasing wheelchairs are offered to parents. Selection considerations such as weight, transporting, folding, lift and school bus accessibility, maintenance, and power supply needs are considered, as are features impacting comfort and therapeutic appropriateness. Roles of dealers, therapists, other parents, and wheelchair manufacturers in…

This collection of brief reports on educational matters of interest to parents contains the most popular titles in the Report to Parents series issued by the National Association of Elementary School Principals as a service to its members. Reports cover the following topics: (1) buying books for children; (2) dealing with child abuse; (3) helping…

When choosing a summer camp program for a disabled child, parents should look for programs and activities that present the child with a maximum challenge that can be met successfully. After checking agencies with information on various camps, parents should consider the camp's facilities, philosophy, resources, and staff. (CB)