As part of an effort to correct major social problems, the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) was created in the State of Washington. The ECEAP offers comprehensive, quality preschool programs for children of families who have an income at or below the federal poverty level. An introductory section of the report provides…

A study examined parents' contributions to the emerging reading abilities of kindergarten and first-grade children by documenting the variation in parent-child interaction during joint storybook reading and the specific interaction patterns associated with children's reading fluency and affect. Subjects, 32 white, working-class parent-child pairs…

A study examined parents' attitudes toward reading and their children's reading problems, to investigate whether a child's reading problem may simply be a reflection of his or her parent's reading know-how. Subjects, 203 of 218 parents of children attending a university reading clinic, responded to a survey. Data were collected over the course of…

This digest briefly summarizes available information on the educational needs of prenatally substance exposed infants and children. Estimated incidence figures are given for the numbers of children exposed in utero to illicit drugs and alcohol. The importance of parent/caregiver education in specific techniques to increase infant alertness and…

This series of 10 short publications addresses topics relevant to early childhood development. Topics discussed include: (1) the ethnic traditions and unique characteristics of every child; (2) suggestions to working parents for coping with their family obligations; (3) suggestions for activities parents can engage in with their young children;…

In 1991, the National Center for Children in Poverty undertook a study of low-income parents as child care consumers. The study involved a review of current research findings, interviews with staff of child resource and referral agencies, and an examination of child care consumer education provided in the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS)…

Even Start programs integrate early childhood education, adult literacy or basic education, parenting education and support, and parent and child time together to help break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy. This report describes the Even Start program in Colorado, including evaluation questions and methods. The report also presents evaluation…

A survey was conducted of 50 school districts in the seven state region (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin) to determine the types of support available to parents of children with disabilities and their satisfaction with these supports. Responses of 3,558 parents and guardians (11.9% of total sample) in 41 school…

This document summarizes a statistical profile that focuses on the needs and problems of poor young children and their families and suggests steps to improve their lives. Information was drawn from primary and secondary analyses of statistical data from 1987. The following findings are included: (1) nearly one out of every four children under 6…

Historically, the emphasis of parent involvement components in early childhood programs has been on teaching the parent to teach the child. Since the early 1980s, however, there has been a movement toward the development of support systems for families. Support activities are important for parents under stress, since stress can affect the ability…

A study evaluated the effectiveness of a parent education program in increasing school readiness in poor and high-needs children. Participants in the Parents and Children Together program (PACT) of Binghamton, New York, receive home visits from trained and certified parent educators, beginning when a child is born and continuing until he or she is…

This pamphlet discusses strategies for reducing baby bottle tooth decay (BBTD) among Native American children. BBTD in infants and toddlers is a painful disease characterized by extensive decay of the upper front and side teeth. It is caused by prolonged exposure of teeth to carbohydrates, such as those contained in infant formula, milk, and fruit…

This booklet explains Head Start's vision for parent involvement and discusses strategies that can be used to involve parents in the preparation of children for entry into Head Start, for participation in the program, and for the transition to school. The booklet notes that the challenge for programs is to work with each individual parent in ways…

This double-number newsletter issue makes the case for collaborations between families, schools, and communities as a stronger force for educating and enriching the lives of our children. It also highlights places where such partnerships are working. The newsletter includes the following articles (1) "Family Support and School-Linked…

An evaluation was done to assess the participation of parents from the 70 Creating a New Approach to Learning Project (Project CANAL) schools in Project CANAL training activities. Project CANAL offered workshops for parents during the months of April and July 1991. The parent day workshops were to provide parents of participating schools with data…