Presents an interview with T.A. Barron, an author of a trilogy of novels about a 12-year-old girl. Topics include character development, adult/child relationships, themes, writing processes, the influence of children on the writing, adult science fiction and young-adult classification of the books, and research and rewrites. (AEF)

Outlines an innovative approach taken by a TAFE (technical and further education) institute in Tasmania to overcome problems associated with effective implementation of on-the-job training in field placements of early childhood students. The program involves a college-based child care training center, where students in an Associate's degree…

This article describes the communication roles of both caregivers and professionals who have contact with young children with disabilities. It presents principles that underlie adult communicative strategy use with this population, along with specific suggestions for facilitating communicative competence. (Author/DB)

Explains the definition and criteria of high quality in early childhood practitioners as the most important element in determining the quality of an early childhood program. Defines professionalism in the early childhood field and describes differentiated levels of professionalism, early childhood teacher certification from a national perspective,…

Surveyed kindergarten and child care workers in Hong Kong on various aspects of training, such as its duration, nature, content, and problems. Found that respondents were dissatisfied with the current training situation and that they felt a need for government intervention. (BAC)

Examined the possible existence, direction, and nature of subconscious, cognitive biases in participants' quality attributions to maternal and nonmaternal child-care interactions, the relationship of such biases to subject's background, and their attitudes toward child care and maternal employment. Potential explanations for the biases and the…

Investigated parental perceptions of a range of children's services and the conduct of service professionals. Interviews were conducted with parents from 50 families of young children with disabilities receiving support for their participation in preschool or center-based child care. Findings revealed the features of services and professional…

Describes an eight-month study conducted in five day care centers for children of impoverished families, using Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences as a framework to train the day care providers and to work with preschool children. Suggests that Gardner's framework is productive for all children, and is particularly applicable to children…

Explored the relationship between causal explanations or attributions that caregivers form regarding children's aggressive and rebellious behaviors in their classrooms and the caregivers' behavioral responses to the misbehaviors. Findings suggest that encouraging caregivers to reflect on why children misbehave could influence their responses to…

Describes a study of three infants whose parents presented vocal models for the infants to imitate. Parents presented vocal models both with and without social praise. Infants showed systematic increases in matching after praise was introduced. Nonmatching vocalizations did not increase with introduction of praise. Findings demonstrate generalized…

Examined caregiving strain of 117 African-American and 464 white daughter caregivers. African Americans reported less role strain. Conflict between caregiving duties and caregivers' personal/social life was predictor for both groups. Unique predictors were poor perceived health, unavailability of respite support, and lower caregiving role demand…

Presents a checklist that early childhood program directors can use to evaluate staff performance. The checklist enumerates positive behaviors in the areas of general work habits; attitudes and skills with children, parents, classes, and co-workers; and professional development. (AC)

Three child care experts in east Berlin report on the impact of German reunification on child care in Germany, and in east Berlin in particular. (BG)

Lists a total of 32 references and resources on techniques for conflict resolution in the preschool classroom, most dated in the 1980s and 1990s. (LB)

Used data from National Survey of Families and Households to examine heterogeneity of caregiving experience for female family caregivers. Found caregiving to have negative associations for caregivers in number of domains, with women who cared for their husbands reporting most negative outcomes. Both longer duration of caregiving and coresidence…