This paper investigates whether encouraging children to become more physically active in their everyday life affects their primary school performance. We use data from a field quasi-experiment called the Active Living Program, which aimed to increase active modes of transportation to school and active play among 8- to 12-year-olds living in low…

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare genetic syndrome that confers risk for neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability. Delays in social communication and early cognitive abilities are observable as early as 9 months of age in children with TSC; however, there have been no studies of early…

This article reports findings from a two-year independent evaluation of the "Little Scientists" program; a program providing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professional development for early childhood educators across Australia. This article reports on the qualitative data gathered with educators to illustrate…

Families who unschool, or home school (at least 2 million kids in the US) usually reach this decision after much deliberation, and after weighing innumerable factors: available time and energy, capacity, desire, and finances. Now, overnight there are hundreds of thousands of young people with no school to go to - compulsory unschooling. While some…

Qualified teachers are a crucial component of preschool programs for improving young children's social, literacy, cognitive, and academic outcomes. Research shows that children are more sociable, exhibit a more developed use of language, and perform at a higher level of cognitive tasks if their teachers have bachelor's degrees and specialized…

Using a multiple probe design across peer buddy-target child dyads, we evaluated the effects of an intervention package (i.e., brief training, system of least prompts, visual supports) on peer buddies' use of stay-play-talk (SPT) with their classmates who were socially isolated (target children). All six peer buddies increased their use of SPT…

The purpose of this study was to examine how paraprofessionals and other service providers participate in co-teaching with a certified special education pre-Kindergarten teacher during dual language (DL) instruction. The study took place in two DL special education preschool classrooms located in an urban public school district in the southwestern…

The present study aims to display how using a personal assessment environment based on the interactive Kahoot! platform actively supports the teaching-learning process. The goal is to improve the instructive-educational process by applying a learning platform based on play and digital technology that favors a qualitative educational endeavor. The…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of using video-enhanced activity schedules on a laptop on the acquisition, maintenance, and generalization of schedule following, and pretend play skills in children with ASD. In addition, social validity data were collected from the teachers and the mothers of the participating children. Four…

The present study explored pre-primary students' investigative activity during a longitudinal, integrative technology education project: the Power Creatures project. Investigative activity refers to the way young children act in a learning context that combines inquiry-based activities with creative hands-on activities, such as designing and…

Play is a universal activity that is an integral part of childhood experiences and aids in the development of important skills. While most children naturally engage in play, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) do not follow the typical pattern of play development and often exhibit delays in play skills. One of the defining characteristics…

This research examined whether children's construals of mathematical manipulatives -- as toys or as tools for doing mathematics -- influenced their learning from a lesson with the manipulatives. Children (grades 2 and 3) were presented with a set of buckets and beanbags, and they were either given no information about the manipulatives (control)…

In this paper, early childhood teacher educators describe their work to provide opportunities for pre-service teacher candidates to engage in specific practices that facilitate reflection and planning related to enhancing toddlers' engagement during free play. The practices targeted were structured by the instructor and supported by the mentor…

Early literacy is largely acquired through child-led learning, yet current ways to support and enhance it may present problems of coercion and adult control. The "Following in our Footsteps II" intervention sought to circumvent such problems by teaching parent and educator pairs of 46 preschoolers how to make everyday literacy and…

Background: For too many youths, school has become a place for students to withstand and kill time until they can leave and learn about things that matter to them. Instead, schools should be inviting and exciting places to learn but also nurturing spaces where all students feel they belong. Drawing upon expanded definition of literacies that…