Research has indicated a strong relationship between low peer status in childhood of children with and without and later problems in adolescence and adulthood and children with social deficits often show similar patterns of behavior. They may be withdrawn and hesitant to interact with peers, socially aloof and "unaware" of their peers, or they may…

"Zero to Three" is a single-focus bulletin of the National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families providing insight from multiple disciplines on the development of infants, toddlers, and their families. Compiling articles from participants of the Leadership Development Initiative Class of 2001-2002, this issue focuses on evaluation…

The goal of England's Peers Early Education Partnership (PEEP) is to support early communication and literacy skills and to support parents as their children's first educators through both home- and group-based programs. The program is currently offered to all children under 5 years of age and their families in a disadvantaged area of Oxford. This…

The Abecedarian Project was one of the most intensive early childhood programs ever offered to children from poor families. This study examined long-term outcomes for 105 of the original 111 participants at age 21. The project was a randomized trial of early childhood educational intervention provided in a full-time child care setting year round…

Noting that families in home visiting early intervention programs receive only about half the number of intended visits, this research used quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate how personality and other factors affect the mother-home visitor relationship and thereby, influence home visit intensity. Participating in the study were 5…

This paper evaluates two locally driven, school-based programs in Illinois that use a system of care approach to provide services for children and adolescents with, or who are at risk for, developing emotional or behavioral disturbances. These sites included a mental health early intervention pilot program in an elementary school setting, and a…

This final report describes achievements and activities of Project SELF (Supports for Early Learning Foundations), a federally funded project in New Mexico which developed, evaluated, and replicated an innovative model that provides strategies for early interventionists and families to support early learning foundations. The project identified…

There is growing concern that early childhood educators are not giving adequate attention to promoting their students' social development. This paper discusses the social developmental needs of young children, the importance of early intervention, and possible ways that early childhood educators can nurture healthy social skills through the school…

Although articulation errors are common among the preschool population, they can affect a child's relationship with peers and adults by an inability to express clearly ideas and needs. To address hypotonia in the lips, cheeks, and tongue of a 4.8 year old Spanish-dominant male who presents with very poor speech intelligibility, an oral sensory…

Launched in 1994, Smart Start is the statewide early childhood initiative in North Carolina designed to ensure that every child "arrives at school healthy and ready to succeed." This guide provides a practical reference to the lessons learned from Smart Start as the program was developed and experienced from the local county partnership…

The first of a 3-volume series describing the 17 Early Head Start (EHS) programs in fall 1997, this report discusses the main features of the research programs and identifies the key challenges and successes they experienced during their first year of serving families. Chapter 1 of the report discusses the historical and national context of the…

This guide offers assessment and intervention guidelines for the Connecticut Birth to Three system concerning the emotional and psychological well-being of infants and toddlers in the system. Emphasis is on infants and toddlers who exhibit symptoms of traumatic stress disorder, depression or other affective disorders, regulatory disorders, sleep…

Reading Recovery is an early intervention program for first grade designed to reduce reading failure. It is based on the assumption that intensive, high-quality help during the early years of schooling is the most productive investment of resources. Individually tailored intervention procedures are implemented for children identified by classroom…

This monograph examines issues of school safety, focusing on the prevention/early intervention end of the continuum of services and on elementary and middle-school age children and youth. It highlights preventive measures schools can take to implement a proactive school-wide system of discipline to ensure school safety. Emphasis is on creating…

This paper discusses 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that promote the inclusion of children with disabilities in general early childhood education settings. The evolution of inclusion policy is explored and changes in disability terminology are described. Amended provisions are then explained and include:…