Search results for: Child development

In this article, the author uses the framework of prek-3rd as a vehicle for exploring the implications of more closely linking Early Childhood Education (ECE) and schooling, focusing especially on philosophical and practical issues raised by this objective. He will examine the reasoning of proponents and raise questions about their assumptions. The prek-3rd posits a heterogeneous population of children moving up through a matrix of diverse learning and developmental tasks at different rates. The author concludes that the example of prek-3rd suggests that there are many positive aspects to the idea of bringing ECE and early schooling closer together, such as a complex view of the child and sensitivity to individual differences; the balance in attention to teaching and learning; and the broadened time frame for considering the transition to school.

In this article, the author describes his work with Goddess, a sixteen-month-old child who has never laughed. The author was assigned to work in her classroom as part of his clinical internship during his graduate studies in mental health counseling and human development. The author explores the ways in which Goddess 's relationships with her mother and teachers help her learn to laugh. The author concludes that the mutual transformation that occurred between Goddess and the important relationships in her life has inspired and sustained a support network for her, thereby greatly improving her future prospects.