Child Care and Early Education: Satisfaction with Services Among Rural Families

Parents were surveyed regarding their satisfaction with early childhood services. Participants were 65 families who had at least 1 child younger than 5 years of age enrolled in a child care center or an early education program in a rural county; a majority of respondents were single, African American females with annual incomes below $20,000. Parents responded to the 20 items of the questionnaire on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (5). The average score for overall level of satisfaction was 4.64 for the child care group and 4.37 for the early education group; the average for individual items ranged from a low of 3.85 to a high of 4.64. Differences between child care centers and early education programs were not statistically significant. Applications, implications, and recommendations for early childhood services are discussed.     

Young Children's Exposure to Mathematics: The Child Care Context

Four preschool teachers from two preschool settings were observed to explore the contribution of child care experiences on the development of young children's understanding of mathematics. Teachers were also interviewed regarding their attitudes and beliefs about the importance of early education, children's understanding of mathematics prior to formal schooling, and their role in facilitating mathematical knowledge. Although the programs and teachers differed in terms of program orientation, teaching style, student participation, and interactions with students, the programs did not differ in terms of the amount or content of mathematics presented to children. During the classroom observations that were conducted, very little mathematics was presented in any of the classrooms either directly or indirectly to students. In contrast, teachers said that they believed that mathematics was important and that they engaged in mathematical discussions in their classroom interactions. Discussion of the lack of math presented in the classroom and the discrepancy of teachers' beliefs and teaching behaviors are discussed.     

Rights of the Child and Early Childhood Education and Care in Europe

‘Securing the rights articulated in the Convention is an effective approach to improving the quality of early experiences.’ 1 1 Early Childhood Rights Indicators, A guide for Monitoring the Convention on the Rights of the Child, http://earlylearning.ubc.ca/media/uploads/documents/internationalresearchbriefjan2012.pdf , p2
This article analyses early childhood education and care and child rights in early childhood and their relationship in the European Union. Both are primarily national competencies. The EU has limited access and tools to influence policies and practices, while there are many ways in which indirect interventions are not only possible, but greatly used, often in areas that do not seem to be closely related to the issues discussed here. Yet there is a strong desire and interest of the different EU institutions to encourage and support Member States to implement both ECEC targets and child rights. In this article, we show that, while ECEC has become an essential part of different policies at EU level, there have been efforts to implement and mainstream child rights, with special attention paid to specific dimensions in relation to early childhood policies and practices, but a child rights based approach is missing.     

A Study of Child Rearing Practices Amongst Selected,Sudanese Families in South Australia: Implications for Child Care Service Selection

Child care services in Australia, for example, are largely defined and shaped by the historically dominant Anglo-Australian discourse and norms. The aim of this research was to examine critically and to find meaning in the experiences of recently arrived Sudanese families as they began to settle into their new cultural environment. The cultural values of some 30 Sudanese families were investigated and related to how these affected the selection of child care services. Qualitative research methods including an indigenous approach were used to gather data. Interactions with Sudanese families took place in their home environments. Interviews were conducted in a way that put those people interviewed at ease. Techniques used included narrative interviewing and vignettes.     

Children with Severe Behavior Problems: A Survey of Texas Child Care Centers' Responses

This article presents the findings of an exploratory study designed to look at the issue of removal of children from childcare due to behavior problems. A survey was sent to a random sample of nonresidential licensed day care centers (DCCs) in Texas. Results from the survey indicate that 50% of DCCs have removed a child from care due to behavior problems. In most cases, parents were left to figure out for themselves what to do with their children following their dismissal from care. This and other relationships found in the data are discussed as well as the need for future research in this area.     

Center-Based Evening Child Care: Implications for Young Children's Development

With increasing numbers of women joining the evening/nighttime workforce, there is a need for quality childcare during these hours. This project, conducted in Japan, sought to compare the effects of child day care, child evening care, and child night care on the development and adaptation of young children. Caregivers completed a survey on the childrearing environment at home, their feelings of self-efficacy, and the presence of support for childcare. Childcare professionals evaluated the development of children. The results of the discriminant analysis indicate that factors in the home environment, not type of center-based care, explained developmental variance.     

当前幼儿读物存在的问题及原因分析——以呼和浩特、乌兰察布市为例

幼儿读物是幼儿认识世界的重要媒介之一,幼儿读物对幼儿的发展有着不可替代的影响作用。笔者通过访谈、观察呼和浩特、乌兰察布市的一些图书市场,以及对幼儿家长的调查问卷,发现当前幼儿读物存在以下问题：幼儿读物的种类多但质量参差不齐;主题过于单一而缺乏创意;内容繁杂而良莠不齐;题材多外国经典而少本土原创;形式多样但安排不当;多媒体电子读物对幼儿图书阅读形成一定的冲击。     

A Systemic Change Model for Leadership, Inclusion, and Mentoring (SLIM)

The Systemic Change Model for Leadership, Inclusion, and Mentoring (SLIM) concentrates on systemic changes occurring in child care organizations where the director builds caring, consistent relationships with the total system and empowers the staff and others through leadership. The model recognizes the importance of focusing on system changes by the organization's director. Leadership qualities related to concepts used in business organizations are included in the training. A mentoring program will help the director focus on his or her leadership capabilities in moving the organization to change. An important collaboration component of the model is working with inclusion of children with special needs. Included in the model are: collaboration components, systemic change, director leadership role, business model related to child care, mentoring, and inclusion of children with special needs.     

Assessing the Development of Young Children in Child Care: A Survey of Formal Assessment Practices in One State

With the current emphasis on program accountability and appreciation of the importance of early learning and timely identification of delays, early childhood developmental assessment in child care centers is crucial. In Florida, a state that supports local control of child assessment decisions, counties were surveyed to determine the specific tools and formal assessment procedures for children birth to 5 in subsidized child care. Sixty-one counties responded for a 91% return rate. Survey results were examined according to experts’ recommendations for best practices in child assessment. Most counties used multiple tools to assess multiple domains of child development with age-appropriate instruments. Many did not involve parents in the assessment process or use tools connected to the child care curriculum. The survey results underscore the complexity of implementing assessment systems for young children in child care.     

儿童福利:学前教育事业发展研究的新视角

儿童福利从儿童的权利和需要出发,以儿童的幸福为宗旨,关注儿童发展问题,学前教育由此是儿童福利的重要组成部分.相比其他学制阶段,学前教育除了具有教育性外,还具有显著的福利性.它能为幼儿提供必要的照顾与保护,从而解放母亲,有助于增加社会劳动力,同时能帮助家庭解决子女养育中的问题,缓解家庭育儿压力与亲子关系冲突,是保证家庭幸福、社会和谐的重要途径与手段.从儿童福利视角看待学前教育,有助于敦促政府从提供社会公共服务的角度出发承担发展学前教育的责任;有助于促使政府为学前教育具有的社会服务功能买单,加大对学前教育的财政投入;有助于政府改变以往经费投入体制与方式,更多关注弱势家庭子女平等接受学前教育的机会;有助于政府协调各个职能部门,建立专门负责儿童福利事务的部门,与教育部门统筹管理,保证有关学前教育政策执行到位,落到实处.     

Family, Friend, and Neighbor Child Caregivers: Results of a Statewide Study to Determine Needs and Desires for Support

Family, friend and neighbor (FFN) child caregivers represent a significant proportion of caregivers for young children. Yet, these caregivers receive little support for their services. In 2003, the First 5 California Children and Families Commission (First 5 California) began a study to determine the work-related needs of FFN caregivers in California. This paper reports on the results of all study activities, including focus groups and interviews with caregivers and parents. It details the specific needs related to licensing, materials and equipment, education and training, and support systems that were identified by FFN caregivers, parents, and other stakeholders as being important to improve the quality and working conditions of FFN care. It also discusses needs of agencies that provide services to FFN caregivers, including awareness of and knowledge about the population, funding and other resources, and professional development topics.     

The Pedagogical Experiences and Practices of Family Child Care Providers

The work in family child care is becoming increasingly more professional, moving from an image of ‘mothering’ toward one of educare. The growing demand for expertise and competence in family child care providers can be examined in light of their pedagogical experiences and the ways in which children engage in learning in providers’ homes. This article is based on a phenomenological study conducted with four certified family child care providers, each with 10 or more years of experience with a wide age range of children. Data revealed that providers foster a pedagogical relationship with children along five dimensions of learning: children’s skills for learning, essential opportunities for learning, two forums for learning, socio-emotional learning, and meaningful learning. The authors conclude with implications for further research.     

Use of Color in Child Care Environments: Application of Color for Wayfinding and Space Definition in Alabama Child Care Environments

Color is a useful design element for wayfinding, spatial orientation, and space definition in children's environments. The study reported here compares the use of color in physical design features associated with the exterior design and interior design of child care centers (N = 101) located in Alabama. Color was evidenced on the exterior of the centers at just over half of the sample. The interior environments of the child care facilities had warm colors and bright accents in the setting; however, the majority of centers used only white, off-white, or gray on the walls.     

Identifying high-quality centre-based childcare using quantitative data-sets: what the numbers do and don't tell us

Quantitative approaches to defining and measuring quality in early childhood education and care (ECEC) have provided a key platform for policy development. Yet their strengths and limitations as informants of high-quality ECEC have not been tested. In this study we examine two sources of quantitative data collected over a five-year period for 74 long day care centres: (1) the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale-Revised and Infant-Toddler Environment Rating Scale instruments which are well-established observational measures; and (2) Australia's nationally administered Quality Improvement and Accreditation System which involves a self-study and validation process. Correspondence over time and across measures was more consistent for the centres identified as providing lower quality ECEC. Variability in ratings of quality was more evident in lower quality centres, whereas high-quality centres showed less variability over time. High quality, however, was less consistently identified across measures. Discussion focuses on the strengths and limitations of these measures of quality, and the implications these have for policy development and future research.     

儿童教育论纲——基于近现代童年观的儿童教育

提倡基于近现代童年观的儿童教育，使儿童过上应有的童年生活，享有应有的童年欢乐，从而帮助他们顺利度过童年，并使他们的根基变得茁壮。发展充满后劲。     

《欢乐时光,儿童乐园——澳大利亚幼儿保育框架》简介

《欢乐时光,儿童乐园——澳大利亚幼儿保育框架》于2011年颁布。该《保育框架》着眼于提高幼儿的幸福感,促进幼儿发展,对幼儿保育和教育的目标、原则和实践作了具体规定。《保育框架》对我国幼儿教育工作具有启示意义。     

印度儿童发展综合服务机构项目及其对我国的启示

印度儿童发展综合服务机构项目的服务对象为生活在农村及城市贫民区的妇女和儿童。该项目提供的是保育和教育服务。该项目通过对儿童早期教育工作者的培训,有效地提高了教育质量。该项目所取得的经验可为我国幼儿教育提供借鉴。     

芬兰《幼儿教育和保育国家课程指导》的内容与启示

《幼儿教育和保育国家课程指导》是芬兰政府颁布的指导芬兰幼教工作的纲领性文件。芬兰的幼儿教育和保育强调尊重儿童的内在价值,为儿童发展提供支持。在课程实施中体现公平性、整体性、集体性、环境舒适性、快乐性、语言中心等原则:课程内容主要包括数学、自然科学、社会-历史、艺术、道德和宗教一哲学等六个方面。芬兰《幼儿教育和保育国家课程指导》重视保障体系的建构,关注地方差异,强调政策的弹性,对我国具有借鉴意义。     

中美儿童托管教育的比较分析

经过20余年的发展,中国大陆儿童托管教育形成了多元化的运作模式,但暴露出的问题也不容忽视。从比较的视角认真分析我国托管教育与美国托管教育的异同及其深层的原因,可以为我们提供有益借鉴。明确托管教育的定位,完善制度建设是解决现阶段我国托管教育问题的重选择。     

Early Childhood Education and Care Content for the Social Work Curriculum

Social workers are poised to play an important role in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings; however, they need the knowledge and skills necessary to make a meaningful contribution. This article presents learning activities that infuse ECEC content, centered on the following four areas for social work education: (1) history of the profession, (2) observation of current practice, (3) culturally competent service delivery, and (4) advocacy to enhance social justice. Through this infusion of content, social work educators can better prepare their students for the growing field of ECEC practice and for social work practice more broadly.