It is important to understand the ways in which zoos can serve as a resource in the development of classroom teachers, parents, and community organization staff members as environmental educators. This project consists of three distinct, but related investigations of zoo use by different groups of educators. The project methodology included…

Designed for use in curriculum development and as an instructional guide for preschool programs in Shasta County, California, this framework provides information on curriculum areas, developmental indicators, and appropriate activities at the preschool level. Specifically, this framework represents a resource for teachers, curriculum specialists,…

Social-emotional competence (SEC) is considered a measure of an individual's total effectiveness in dealing with the environment. To verify empirically whether SEC depends on the intelligence and social maturity of young children, a study of 40 preschool children was undertaken in India. A standardized intelligence test was administered to the…

This report considers the character of youth policies, youth research, and other aspects of youth in the member states of the European Community (EC). The goal is to provide a useful basis for further Community thinking on youth matters. Section 1 of the report depicts central aspects of youth across the EC. The aim is to demonstrate how young…

An American historian writing about the experiences of American homefront children during the Second World War sought to add authenticity to his book by including in it the personal stories of people who had been children during the war, told in their own words. The writer's letter of appeal, published in about 100 U.S. newspapers and about 75…

This guide for field advisors, which is part of the training materials used in the Child Development Associate (CDA) National Credentialing Program, outlines the 6-month CDA fieldwork portion of the 3-part credentialing program. The guide begins by describing the background, purpose, and curriculum design of the CDA Professional Preparation…

Recent work in the field of child and adolescent social skills is synthesized in this volume with new and unpublished information. The first three chapters provide a foundation for conceptualizing and assessing child and adolescent social skills. Chapter 1, "The Nature and Value of Social Skills," provides a definition, examples, historical…

Noting that even one caring adult can help make a child more capable of handling later stressors, this paper lists some strategies for building a sense of specialness in young children in group care contexts. Also presented are ways to enhance optimism and combat attitudes of helplessness and pessimism among children. The paper outlines a pattern…

From birth--and possibly before--children are likely to encounter a considerable amount of stress generated by society. This book explains what adults can do to prevent and/or minimize the harmful consequences of stress for children. Part 1, "Understanding Stress in Children," explores the general causes of stress, with particular emphasis on…

This guide teaches parents and educators of black and biracial children how to reduce racism's impact on a child's development to promote emotional health at preschool, elementary, and secondary levels. The chapters are: (1) "Chocolate and Vanilla: How Preschoolers See Color and Race"; (2) "How Preschoolers Begin To Learn Racial Attitudes"; (3)…

This paper considers the question "What are good child outcomes?" from the perspectives of developmental psychology, economics, and sociology. Section 1 of the paper examines good child outcomes as characteristics of stage-salient tasks of development. Section 2 emphasizes the acquisition of "human capital," the development of productive traits…

The last decade has seen the convergence of three trends in the United States: a decline in the well-being of America's children; increasing overlap between the educational policy agenda and a broader policy agenda for children; and a shift in responsibility for social policy from the federal to the state level. This paper examines the current…

This digest provides basic information and resources on visual impairments. Legal and educational definitions are given for "legally blind,""partially sighted,""visually handicapped,""blind," and "low vision". Typical characteristics of individuals with visual impairments in the areas of cognitive…

Development and learning are synonymous in traditional African education and are embedded in the cultural and educational values of African people. The community, extended family, and a strong family life with children as top priority, play important roles in traditional education. Family education based on the people's culture and traditions,…

This paper presents an overview of a 3-year longitudinal study conducted by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). The purpose of the study is to examine the concurrent, long-term, and cumulative influences of variations in early child care experiences on the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical…