Full Description
"Ask yourself the questions posed in this book, whether you are searching for child care or wondering why our smallest and most important citizens don't have more quality early education programs available in a more equitable manner. This is a great teacher's guide for those entering the field and a great staff development idea for ECE centers."
—Denise Humphries, Preschool Principal
John F. Kennedy American School, Queretaro, Mexico
"I cannot think of anything pertaining to high-quality child care programs that isn't covered in this book. The organization is clear, consistent, and easy to follow."
—Diane Salverson, Inclusion Specialist
Early Childhood Direction Center, Buffalo, NY
A guide to creating and sustaining a high-quality, successful early child care program!
With most families today needing at least two sources of income, there is a critical need for quality, affordable child care throughout our country. This book discusses the qualities of an effective early child care program and the need to provide children with experiences that will prepare them for future emotional, social, and academic success.
By examining high-quality early care within a real-life setting, this resource illustrates how to build a successful program, handle the inevitable challenges, and achieve and sustain positive results. Using their experience in child development and child therapy, the authors demonstrate how to:
Create environments that foster healthy relationships for children and adults
Build on children's sense of wonder and joy for learning in preparation for later academic experiences
Use families' ethnic and cultural diversity as a teaching tool
Maintain professional standards for administration and staff
Developing Quality Care for Young Children is invaluable not only for early childhood educators, administrators, and trainers, but also for anyone striving to make a difference in the lives of our youngest learners.
Contents
Foreword by Rebecca Shahmoon Shanok
About the Authors
Authors' Note
Acknowledgments
Prologue to a Dream that Came to Be
Introduction
The Critical Need for Quality Early Child Care
1. The Little House on Village Avenue: What Makes a Good Child Care Center
Quality Care Is Not Just Day Care: How a Good Early Child Care Program Prepares Children for Life
The Toddler Classroom: Where a Skilled Child Care Professional Can Open Up the World to Children
Translating Principles Into Practice in a Good Child Care Program
High-Quality Child Care: Some Other Basics
2. The First Task of Early Child Care: Building a Trusting Relationship Between Caregiver, Child, and Family
Attachment, the First Basic Need of All Children
Creating a Stimulating and Nurturing Atmosphere in the Classroom
How Can a Teacher Handle Aggression in Children?
Flexibility and the Adult-Child Relationship: Why Rules and Schedules Need to Be Adapted
Building Human Relationships in Every Classroom
The Underlying Class Theme: We Are All People and I Am Somebody
Making Parents Welcome: An Essential Component of the Relationship Between Caregiver and Child
How Does Your Child Care Center Build Relationships Between Caregiver, Child, and Family?
3. The Second Task: Developing Wholesome Peer Relationships Among Children
Why Building Peer Relationships Is a Necessity Among Children
The Stages of Play
Teaching Children to Resolve Conflicts: An Essential Task of Early Childhood Educators
4. The Role of Curriculum and Staff Development in Early Child Care
The Importance of a Well-Planned, Appropriate Curriculum
Building the Important S-A-Ts in Children: Separation, Autonomy, Trust
Learning by Hands-On Experience
Staff Development Is an Ongoing Process
5. The School as a Reflection of Our Diverse Heritage
Diversity as a Natural Part of the Curriculum
Handling Ethnic Stereotypes Among Children
Cultural Diversity and Differing Expectations
Working With Children of Different Cultural Backgrounds: Some Helpful Hints
How Does Your Child Care Program Take Advantage of America?s Richly Diverse Cultural Heritage?
6. High-Quality Child Care as a Learning Experience
Learning as a Natural Process
Play Is the Work of the Child
The Learning Centers
The Daily Schedule
All the Things They Were Learning
Epilogue
Appendix A: Rosa Lee Young Curriculum Outline
Prekindergarten and Kindergarten
Activities and Learning Experiences Throughout the Day
Toddler Activities and Learning Experiences Throughout the Day
Appendix B: Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children From Birth Through Age 8 (National Association for the Education of Young Children)
Appendix C: Reggio Emilia
Reggio Emilia and the Hundred Languages of Children
The Nine Baisc Principles of Reggio Emilia
Notes
Index
