This practicum report describes a community college program developed for the purpose of increasing the awareness of early childhood personnel in a central Ontario (Canada) community concerning the benefits of developmentally appropriate practices. The need for the program arose from a discrepancy between the emphasis in community college courses…

This document reports the oral and written testimony of witnesses at a Congressional hearing held to examine ways to use the abilities of the rapidly growing older population, particularly in professions such as child care where they have the potential of making an important contribution to the education and care of the children of the United…

This publication offers a framework for thinking about the issues surrounding the preparation of personnel who work with infants, toddlers, and their families. Also provided are a common language with which to communicate across disciplines and recommendations for collaborative action to improve training for all infant/family practitioners.…

Written for faculty members, administrators, and trainers in a variety of educational settings, this publication discusses issues and offers recommendations on the preparation of professionals working with infants, toddlers, and their families. Section I identifies four key elements in the training of infant/family practitioners and describes…

The purpose of this study is to examine the training needs of caregivers of toddlers. Questions addressed include: (1) Is specialized training necessary? (2) Are caregivers receiving adequate training for providing appropriate environments for children of 1 or 2 years of age? (3) What are the obstacles and encouragements for caregivers of toddlers…

A course syllabus for one-, two-, and four-year institutions was developed as a possible format for awarding credit for televised training of child care providers. "Spoonful of Lovin'" was designed as a series of five 30-minute programs to develop child care skills necessary to family day care providers, parents, and teachers. Episodes explored…

If professionals are to learn how to maximize the positive effects and minimize the negative effects of day care, they must focus their efforts on the ways caregivers interact with children. This research provides a detailed and intimate look at the conditions under which caregivers interact with low income toddlers. Fifty subjects, ages 24 to 30…

Because the characteristics of children change at different ages, child caregiver knowledge, techniques, and stresses also should vary. The author suggests ways to improve or eliminate three specific stresses of infant/toddler caregiving: low pay and status, physical stress, and emotional stress. Infant caregivers should inform parents about the…

A study was conducted to critically assess the developmental conditions of 187 children (ages 1 month to 6 years) in eight creches (day nurseries) located in and around Ribeirao Preto, Brazil. Data were collected through informal interviews of day care staff and from 20 hours of direct observations of day care units. Findings indicated inadequate…

This paper reviews current demographic and programmatic trends with respect to the frail elderly. These trends include the projected growth in population of those 65 and older between now and 2030; the rapidly improving economic status of the older adult population and its effect on views of what the elderly's share of public money should be; the…

Preliminary findings from several studies suggest that effective child care services delivered in a manner acceptable to and supportive of teen parents can facilitate school attendance and completion and can increase the chances of beneficial outcomes for young women and their children. Accordingly, in 1987 the Wellesley College Center for…

A Head Start education coordinator who supervised personnel associated with nine child care centers implemented a practicum intervention designed to provide a program of cognitive and affective learning experiences that would help teachers and parents nurture prosocial behaviors in preschool children. A total of 23 teachers and teacher aides, 222…

To increase the participation of child caregivers in mandated inservice training provided at a metropolitan adult/vocational center, changes were made in the curriculum and classroom environment and the research literature was reviewed for ways of activating adult learners. Several specific program innovations were implemented, including the…

Provided are an introductory family day care correspondence course, a trainer's resource manual, and information packets for trainees. The introductory course is organized into 12 topic units plus an introductory unit and covers various aspects of quality family day care. The course materials are organized in two sections: (1) general instructions…

Designed to help trainee child caregivers working in military care centers make decisions relating to real problems, this staff development module examines how caregivers can create an optimal environment for children. Discussions focus on respecting children's individual differences, being aware of feelings and personal style in dealing with…