Maintains that staff guidance in early childhood and child care programs can be optimized when it functions within the guidelines of developmentally appropriate practices in regards to staff age, stage appropriateness, and individual appropriateness. Differences in individual staff temperament and cognitive styles are considered. (BB)

Examined differences in stressors and well-being for caregivers who care for relative with dementia at home and those with relative in nursing home (n=120). Found no differences in depression or somatic complaints, but nursing home caregivers reported fewer social disruptions and more stressors resulting from activities of daily living assistance,…

Presents suggestions for creating family-like programs in large child-care centers in three areas: (1) physical environment, incorporating cozy spaces, beauty, and space for family interaction; (2) caregiving climate, such as sharing home photographs, and serving meals family style; and (3) family involvement, including regular conversations with…

Describes successful practices and procedures for designing effective infant care programs for children born to teenage parents, including supervisory support for nurturing caregiver-child relationships, continuous staff training in infant development, low teacher-child ratios, active parent involvement, a child development curriculum, and…

Investigated whether the rate and patterns of pronoun case error were influenced by the composition of an individual pronoun's paradigm. Twenty-nine children ages 2;6 to 4;0 years were audiotaped interacting with their primary caregivers in various settings. Results indicated that 27 children produced case errors. The composition of a pronoun's…

Notes that parent orientation is one of the most important functions of center directors and provides an opportunity to discuss expectations and describe the program. Describes one center's curriculum and procedures such as nutrition guidelines, and payment and pick-up processes. Notes additional benefits of parent orientation in terms of…

Hiring men for child care positions requires a change in recruitment strategies, and retaining men requires a change in workplace practices. Advertisements to target men, and thoughtfully planned interviews can aid in the hiring process. Safe, protected workplaces in which male employees feel valued equally to female peers will encourage men to…

Suggests that mastering the toilet is a significant step for young children, and one of childhood's earliest rites of passage. Suggests that in learning to control body functions, toddlers step toward independence, self-reliance and personal responsibility. Urges child care workers to work with parents to identify a child's readiness and to agree…

Analysis of data regarding future residential plans of 141 mothers of adult children with mental retardation found that greater care giving burden was associated with more extensive planning for residence within the formal service system and less planning for residence with a family member. More frequent service use predicted greater planning for…

Acknowledges that early-childhood education is a global practice and examines underlying images of the child. Questions the adequacy of current research to encompass global childhoods, how child development is conceptualized within early-childhood work, and children's status within early-education research and practice. Notes a current paradigm…

Discussion of components of preverbal communicative competence in typically developing infants is related to development of children with severe physical impairment (SPI). Specifically, eye gaze, attention, and gesture are described as they relate to reciprocity, consistency, and predictability of infant-caregiver interactions. Intervention…

Observed engagement of children in 17 child care environments as a way to assess program quality. Found that children in centers that met only minimal licensing requirements had lower levels of engagement than other children, and that center quality was related to quality of experience. (LBT)

Focuses on recognizing key indicators for developing teamwork and collaboration among child care staff. Addresses communicating clearly, interacting respectfully, demonstrating trust, negotiating different perspectives, building on each other's strengths, and promoting reliability and responsibility. Identifies strategies to cultivate growth in…

This article provides qualitative description of behaviors that bring children to musical competence by age 5 in Nharira Communal Lands in Zimbabwe. Based on observation of three villages comprised of multiple extended family groups, the narrative focuses on area demographics, the community's people, musical influences, musical interactions of…

Examines management styles, dispositions, and skills that provide a positive work environment for child care staff. Categorizes suggestions as offering genuine respect and trust, working with a vision for the future, sharing the decision-making process, rejecting a scarcity mentality, tending to the physical environment, and "walking the…