The growth of family day care is assessed from a personal viewpoint. Observations on trends since the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the International Year of the Child are offered. A review of historical, moral, and legal perspectives on children's rights covers views on childhood during the middle ages and into the…

Serving as a vehicle for raising the profile of and thereby gaining recognition for the important research and development work being conducted in Canada in support of children and families, the "Research Connections Canada" series compiles research and/or development papers as well as background papers, analytical literature reviews,…

Communication and the exchange of information are key components of the relationships between parents of young children and the staff of programs that serve them. Professionals who work with families are likely to be more effective when they are aware of how aspects of their own communication practices may affect parents' ability and willingness…

Higher-quality child care during the first 3 years of a child's life may have strong and enduring effects on the child's development and well-being. One practice that is theorized to promote higher quality of care is the provision of continuity of caregivers for young children. Continuity of caregivers means that infants and toddlers remain with…

This matrix provides information on early childhood training and technical assistance services in Illinois. Parts of the document are presented in grid form so that information can be compared across programs. First, information is provided on the following training and technical assistance providers: Child Care Resource & Referral…

This curriculum module provides information and guidance on controlling communicable and infectious diseases in the childcare setting and is designed to fulfill the learning needs and licensing requirements of childcare providers in California. The curriculum provides 4 to 7 hours of training for childcare providers to be conducted by experienced…

This book by a Montessori educator provides ideas and suggestions for parents, extended families, preschool teachers, and anyone who wants to gain a simple understanding of how and when to relate to a toddler in a supportive, not destructive, manner. The book addresses how to communicate with toddlers, how to avoid and resolve emotional conflict,…

Primary pediatric and adolescent health care providers are confronted every day with youngsters who have substantial mental health and psychosocial concerns. These caregivers are in a unique position to help deal with such concerns and transform how the nation thinks about and addresses the mental health of young people. This brief highlights ways…

This paper highlights research into the positive possibilities for children in school and life when they have access to high-quality care and education before entering public school. Three key components of early care and education are discussed in the paper. The first, quality in early care and education, addresses: (1) What is high quality and…

Contends that assumptions concerning infants' adjustment to child center care need to be tempered with attention to observation, thought, and commitment to each individual baby. Describes the Options Daycare program for pregnant teens and young mothers. Presents a case study illustrating the need for openness in strategy and planning for…

Presents tips for organizing an effective parent involvement program: (1) develop a philosophy statement; (2) value family values, traditions, and beliefs; (3) reach out to parents; (4) train for effective communication; (5) encourage parent involvement in program activities; (6) provide involvement opportunities; (7) seek parental input; (8)…

Used the Maslach Burnout Inventory and Early Childhood Work Environment Survey to identify workplace predictors of burnout in 137 female child-care providers in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Found that age, decision making, and goal consensus were the only significant predictors of burnout, suggesting the need to balance the freedom of persons to make…

Examines the potential positive caregiving experiences of 20 adolescents and their perceptions of relational enhancement as a result of caregiving. Results merged into four primary categories: (1) increased sibling activity/sharing; (2) greater empathy for older adults; (3) significant mother-adolescent bonding; and (4) peer relationship selection…

Used data from NICHD Study of Early Child Care to assess whether regulable features of child care homes affected children's development. Found caregivers' education and recency of training related to learning environment and caregiving sensitivity. More positive caregiving related to compliance with age-weighted group-size cut-offs. Caregiver…

Noting that staff guidance is an integral part of successful program administration, child- and youth-care administrators should understand the developmental level of the workers within the setting, note that workers' behavior may be attributed to individual traits or developmental characteristics, and understand that their reactions to workers'…