Presents a policy statement from delegates at the Warwick International Conference of Early Years Education that opposes a British government proposal to introduce a one-year nongraduate teacher training certificate course for nursery nurses and classroom assistants, which will qualify them to teach in infant classes. (BB)

Nine adolescent mothers interacted with their infants in three interaction style conditions differing in terms of stimulation and responsiveness provided by the adult. Results support the position that, by interacting in a stimulating and contingently responsive manner, caregivers increase the likelihood of engagement states that are believed to…

The Getting Started Together project is a 48-hour curriculum to enhance health care professionals' abilities to work with handicapped and at-risk infants and toddlers and their families. The curriculum was packaged into 10 self-instructional videocassette modules for people who are unable to attend classroom sessions. (JOW)

Describes how one child care center staff helps infants make the transition to the toddler group. Transition occurs over a period of several weeks, involving parent-staff consultation and continual adult support. The child manages the change in small steps, resulting in a smooth transition and allowing the child the independence and support…

A father shares his experience raising a daughter born with severe brain damage. The article explores the parents' emotions in learning the scope of their daughter's condition, coping with support machinery, getting to know parents of other children with disabilities, dealing with health professionals, and securing financial support. (PB)

Reviews the experimental literature concerning the effectiveness of prenatal and newborn home visiting programs in improving the lives of children and families, focusing on studies employing randomized trials. Results suggest that home visiting programs have had mixed success, improving some outcomes but not others. (MDM)

Describes the use of activity boxes with 43 young children with blindness, deaf-blindness, or severe learning disabilities and visual impairments. Discusses the contribution such boxes make to intellectual development, particularly the development of voluntary hand function from the integration of the primitive grasp-and-release instincts shown by…

Reviews research on factors influencing the child-care-choice behaviors of mothers of infants within the context of a theoretical model that relates such behavior to the environmental context, maternal beliefs related to child care, child characteristics, and mother's demographic characteristics. Concludes with recommendations for future research…

This study used ethnographic methodology to examine the coping mechanisms of 34 parents of children (infancy to adulthood) with disabilities. Results indicated that families who were active in church appeared more able to cope with stress and maintain a positive outlook for their child. Service providers are urged to encourage the religious…

Argues that many of the conditions advocated in current educational theory relating to curriculum change are unrealistic in the present political and economic climate, and that politicization of education, the role of the media, as well as subject-specific factors, deserve more attention. Illustrates with a case of curriculum change in Australia.…

The utility of cost-benefit analysis in program evaluation is illustrated using hypothetical examples of the consequences of natural environments service provision. Areas for further research related to cost and benefit implications are presented. Early intervention programs can use the cost-benefit framework to evaluate the social impact of…

Notes that working parents of preschoolers find it difficult to schedule time for direct involvement in their child's education or care program without special arrangements with employers, who frequently are unwilling to make arrangements. Presents ways schools or centers can create a community climate in which employers are encouraged and…

Assesses the effectiveness of a mother-focused, neonatal hospital-based intervention program in which 12 low socioeconomic group mothers in Boston participated in a structured developmental and behavioral assessment of their premature infants, with the goal of enhancing their ability to provide appropriate interactions and environmental…

Presents six articles on brain research and child development: "Brain Research, Infant Learning, and Child Care Curriculum" (J. R. Lally); "The Thinking Brain" (P. Schiller); "Early Experiences Shape Social Development" (B. Caldwell); "Facing the Challenge of Motor Development" (P. Weikart); Language…

This article reviews the most frequent causes of seizure disorders in young children and the classification of different seizure types. It discusses current therapies, including alternatives to medication. Emergency response to seizures is covered a well as non-epileptic episodes that may resemble seizures. Epilepsy's potential impact on the…