This study examined the effects of caregiver stability on children's behavior in day care centers during a period of caregiver turnover. A total of 25 children, ages 2-5 years, in 7 day care centers who encountered caregiver turnover participated in the study. Baseline and turnover observations were conducted and scored, and correlated with…

Questioned 838 aging mothers of children with disabilities to describe the functional and affective relationships characterizing disabled and nondisabled siblings. Mothers reported that nondisabled offspring provided little functional assistance to their disabled siblings but that affective relationships between their children were characterized…

Highlights the concept of infant mental health and discusses what early care and education professionals can do to boost babies' emotional well-being. Offers steps for the following specific strategies: (1) developing trust; (2) being alert to risk conditions; (3) nurturing children's mental health; (4) creating supportive environments; and (5)…

Examined 12 child caregivers' ability to articulate their beliefs concerning teacher practice, and personal and professional influences related to those beliefs. Found that 33 percent of teachers' rationales focused on children's socio-emotional development, 10 percent on cognitive development, and 6 percent on language development. Teachers with…

Describes how caregivers can support young children's writing development. Outlines stages of writing: scribbling, drawing, invented letters, random letters, copying words, developmental spelling, and conventional spelling. Provides tips on what to say to children in each stage of writing. (KB)

The goal of NAEYC's National Institute for Early Childhood Professional Development is to improve the quality of services provided to young children and their families by enhancing the quality, consistency, and accessibility of early childhood education professional preparation. In this compilation of presentations, key leaders offer their…

Noting the considerable variation in state child care licensing regulations, this packet provides data on states' training requirements for child care licensing. Contents of the packet are: (1) an introductory article, "Training Requirements in Child Care Licensing that Promote a Career Development Approach," which includes extensive…

This handbook attempts to answer questions about informal caregiving and caregivers, focusing on the rural elderly. The first section presents a national perspective on caregiving. Recipients of caregiving, providers of caregiving, the caregiving dilemma, and psychological, physical, family, and financial issues are discussed. The second section…

Children's earliest experiences set the stage for school success and adult productivity. In the first three years of life, the brain grows at breakneck speed, creating more than a trillion pathways for learning and development. By the age of three, 85 percent of the brain's capacity is in place, creating the ability to speak, learn, and reason.…

Examined adult caregivers (N=96) caring for persons with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) on a long-term basis. Results indicate no significant sex difference regarding caregiver stress and satisfaction. The more life satisfaction caregivers reported, the less stress and more satisfaction they experienced in caring for a person with CFS. (RJM)

Describes a study conducted in Israel that investigated whether the caregiver's awareness to the emotional experiences that toddlers undergo in the first days in kindergarten improves through a virtual reality simulation of a toddler's world. Explains the use of virtual reality technology to simulate a toddler's first few days' experiences in a…

Analyzes caregiver burden in relation to Alzheimer patients' awareness of their own deficits. Results suggest that caregiver burden was associated with impaired patient awareness of memory deficit independent of disease stage and dementia severity, suggesting that impaired awareness may be an important mediator of caregiver burden. (RJM)

Uses an existentialist perspective to examine the current empirical stress/adaptation model that guides caregiving of persons with dementia. Compares and contrasts key elements, strengths, and limitations of each model and isolates areas of convergence/divergence in both perspectives. Identifies implications for future theory development,…

Offers suggestions for resolving conflict between child care staff or between caregivers and parents. Suggestions include taking personal time, putting others first, being honest and up front, staying focused on being professional, letting go of selfishness, keeping quiet, listening, giving more than one takes, asking for a reprieve, and seeking…

Reviews research on characteristics and resources of family child caregivers providing high quality care. Focuses on regulation, lifelong learning in early childhood education, psychological well-being, commitment to child care, supportive child care connections, and a solid financial foundation. Maintains that consumer education can help parents…