Child Development

Children need a broad view of the world to better work with others and achieve academic success. That means being able to see many perspectives, listen to others, and share their own ideas and perceptions. This book contains simple activities that start with identifying different perspectives and then challenge them to notice what they perceive. The themes are meant to ask children to notice relationships, investigate same and different, use perceptions to develop inductive and deductive reasoning,… More »

If the timing is right, the learning that occurs in the first five years can be a gold mine, promoting valuable cognitive and physical development that lasts a lifetime. Boosting Brain Power provides 52 strategies - one for every week of the year - to help teachers stimulate healthy brain growth in young children. In addition to well-researched strategies, each snippet of information offers teachers evidence-based instructions for how to bring the concepts to life in the classroom. In this book,… More »

For today's early childhood educator, change is a non-negotiable reality. While the size, force, and direction of change can often seem overwhelming, this book shows the way toward overcoming these gigantic. The authors share a specific framework with concrete steps to help educators become positive change makers in the field of early care and education. Complete with resources, tools, and questions for reflection, this handbook takes readers through four progressive paths toward becoming an architect… More »

What should we do to help children growing up in adversity? And what practical steps can the adults who are responsible for them--from parents and teachers to policy makers and philanthropists--take to improve their chances for a positive future? The author encourages us to think in a brand new way about the challenges of childhood. Rather than trying to "teach" skills like grit and self-control, he argues, we should focus instead on creating the kinds of environments, both at home and… More »

This revised classic offers hundreds of updated tested solutions for the tricky problems, questions, and concerns that arise throughout the early childhood teacher's day. Based on sound developmentally appropriate theory, this how-to book on classroom management techniques enables beginning and experienced teachers alike to run effective, successful programs. Some new topics include working with ESL learners, helping children deal with traumatic life events, and using computers in the classroom. Paperback. 312 pages.

This book provides an introduction to the project approach with step-by-step guidance for conducting meaningful investigations with young children. The authors have expanded their bestseller to include two new chapters--How Projects Can Connect Children with Nature and Project Investigations as STEM--and to provide more help to teachers of the youngest children (toddlers) and older children (2nd grade). The new edition also shows teachers how to use standards in the topic selection process and identifies… More »

A helpful, informative companion to the Ages & Stages Questionnaires®: Social-Emotional, Second Edition (ASQ:SE-2) screening system, this DVD gives an overview of emotional and social development and provides a thorough introduction to ASQ:SE-2™. Viewers get an inside look at the screening system in practice as they watch a home visitor using ASQ:SE-2™ with the family of a 4-year-old boy. They'll see how parents complete the questionnaires, with close-ups of sample questions.… More »

Whether you see a preschooler laughing or crying, hugging or tugging on a playmate, taking risks or seeking comfort from an adult, you know that they are developing their emotional skills and growing up in so many ways every day. And they need your help! This book shares common milestones and typical scenarios to help you recognize various ways that preschoolers express their feelings and interact with others. As you support preschoolers struggling to handle emotional challenges that occur during… More »

Preschoolers have a sense of wonder about so many aspects of their world. They enjoy demonstrating their knowledge to others, and they are challenged to use their brains in fascinating new ways every day. Whether they are making clay figures, rolling cars down ramps, experimenting with writing, or exploring nature, they are expanding their mental horizons constantly. This book will help you understand typical milestones children tend to reach during the preschool years as they develop their ability… More »

Preschoolers tend to be social beings. Whether they are playing with dolls side by side, building block castles together, or rolling down hills with friends, most young children enjoy the company of others. Playing together comes naturally, but you can help them negotiate turn taking, learning how to mend hurt feelings, and practice communicating positively while they play. This book highlights the milestones children tend to reach during the preschool years as they develop socially. As a guide… More »

This book offers a series of best practices for child care providers to nurture a child's spiritual development-an extension of social-emotional learning. The book helps educators introduce young children to a system that begins with love, is nurtured by wonder, and leads to the empathy needed for learning. You can provide support and strengthen children's self-awareness through deep connections, increased social awareness, and pro-social behaviors, such as kindness, caring, empathy, and reverence.… More »

Develop a curriculum inspired by children's emerging interests. This book explores the components of emergent curriculum and how its practices can improve the educational culture of early childhood programs. The updated edition includes new information on exploration of inquiry-based practice, reexamination of circle time and scripts for routines, expansion of invitations (including invitations for children learning a second language), new photos and documentation, and a new chapter on Reggio Emilia.… More »

A fun, accessible approach to the maker movement! With 25 classroom-ready engineering design challenges inspired by children's favorite books, educators can seamlessly integrate making and tinkering and STEM concepts (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) in preschool through third grade classrooms. Paperback. 144 pages.

In "Leading with Heart and Soul", Toni Christie shares her wit, wisdom, and lessons learned from leading teams in early childhood education. Leaders and aspiring leaders will enjoy Toni's frank and humorous ability to inform and inspire the reader with her values-based approach to leadership. Twelve chapters: Be Courageous, Dream Big, Serve Others, Have Empathy, Foster Loyalty, Be Honest, Display Grace, Encourage Creativity, Create Joy, Show Gratitude, Empower Others, and Model Respect… More »

A parenting resource offering five emotionally supportive strategies to incorporate SET for Life's research-based methods into your home life to strengthen your relationship with your child! Paperback.

Children are spending less time being outside in nature, playing, imagining, and learning about their surroundings. Instead, they're spending more time with tablets, televisions, and overly structured routines. This book shows practical and strategic ways educators can create rich, explorative, and interdisciplinary learning through extensive outdoor experiences. Learn how to develop and implement a nature-based curriculum to support children's optimal learning, from start to finish. Age focus:… More »

Take a fresh approach to community service and giving back. Teaching young children to be socially conscious, community-oriented, and eager to volunteer seems like a daunting task, especially for busy families with children of varying ages. Simple Acts brings busy parents practical, easy-to-do ideas to involve the whole family in volunteering and helping others in the community. Full of advice, tips, and real-life stories; this fun, easy-to-use guide helps parents and children of all ages incorporate… More »

Sometimes misbehavior isn't what it seems. Many children come to care with early signs of mental- or behavioral-health issues. Early childhood professionals are often the first to notice that something is different. "How Can I Help?" is a practical guide that helps educators first identify issues and then create nurturing, safe, and successful learning environments to set up all children for success. Learn how to: promote mental health for all children in your care, identify signs of behavioral-health… More »

Written by Carol Stock Kranowitz, The Out-Of-Sync Child was the first of its kind to explain SPD - Sensory Processing Disorder - and provide parents a drug-free alternative in helping their children grow and adjust in the world. This is the revised addition, offering new sections on hearing and vision, and how this disorder often appears alongside other conditions.

"Children's Lively Minds" is a book filled with true stories about children exploring schema, followed up with reflection and questions on what is being learned. Taking steps to understand schema theory and willfully supporting it can help teachers and families see the savvy in the repetitive behavior of young children, and allow adults to have a better understanding and support brain development.

"Adventures in Risky Play: What is Your Yes?" goes to the heart of risk-taking and children. As educators working with young children, we all have boundaries and feelings around what risky play is allowed. Rusty Keeler invites us to examine the cage of boundaries that we have created for ourselves and our children. He challenges us to rattle our cage and discover where the lines are movable. In our role as educators and caretakers, when we allow children to play and confront risk on their… More »

This helpful teacher resource will guide you through creating an equitable environment for children ages 3 - 5. This book features a variety of topics that will help support conversations about identity, bias and preschool environment. Paperback. 160 pages.

This book has been an essential resource for the early child care field. Fully revised and expanded, the 2009 version comes with a supplementary CD containing readings on key topics, plus video examples showing developmentally appropriate practice in action. Based on what the research says about development, learning, and effective practices, as well as what experience tells us about teaching intentionally, DAP articulates the principles that should guide our decision making. Chapters describe children… More »

Understanding infant and toddler behavior can be a challenge. But this Innovations book provides teacher with a more thorough understanding of the knowledge base that informs early childhood practice. Focusing on the development of children from birth to age three, Innovations gives you an in-depth guide to the early childhood field which begins to address these challenging behaviors in developmentally appropriate ways. Paperback. 372 pages.