The Whole Child

I. BEGINNING TO TEACH. 1. How to Survive While Teaching: Suggestions and Guidelines for the First Few Weeks. Some Thoughts About Getting Started. Implications for the Profession: What Do These Facts Have to Do with Me? Research Study: Who Is Caring for America's Young Children. Some Comforting Thoughts. Basic Professional Ethics. Some Recommendations for Starting Out. Practical Things to Do to Increase Competence. Recognize Stress and Deal with It as Effectively as Possible. Some Special Problems. The Way to Your Mentors Heart. Summary. 2. What Makes a Good Day for Children? Can Early Education Make a Difference? Do Different Educational Approaches Produce Different Results? Underlying Philosophy of This Book. Basic Premises of This Book. Putting Premises Into Practice: Planning a Good Day for Children. Putting the Elements Together. Summary. 3. What Parents Need. Problems That Interfere with Good Communication. Suggestions for Establishing a Good Relationship Between Parent and Teacher. What If the Relationship Is Not Good? Maintaining Good Relationships: Keeping the Lines of Communication Open. Counseling with Parents. Research Study: Which Kinds of Childrens Centers Are Likely to Do the Best Job Communicating with Parents? Practical Pointers About Conducting a Parent Conference. Limits to Guidence Work. Summary. II. FOSTERING PHYSICAL WELL-BEING. 4. Handling Daily Routines. Schedules and Transitions Into Routines. Research Study: Intentions Versus Reality. Routines of Arrival and Departure. Routines That Center Around Eating. The Process of Toileting. Handling Nap Times. Summary. 5. Development of the Physical 4Self. Promotion of Health and Safety in the Childrens Center. Basic Principles of Physical Development. Fostering Large Muscle Development in Young Children. Research Study: Can a Little Instruction Make a Big Difference? Use of Perceptual-Motor Activities to Enhance Physical Development. Fostering Sensory Experience. Summary. III. NOURISHING AND MAINTAINING EMOTIONAL HEALTH. 6. Fostering Mental Health in Young Children. Importance of Developing Basic Attitudes of Trust, Autonomy, and Initiative in Young Children. Hallmarks of an Emotionally Healthy Young Child. Personal Qualities That Will Help the Teacher Establish an Emotionally Positive Climate in the Childrens Center. Practical Ways to Help Young Children Achieve Healthy Emotional Development. Summary. 7. Developing Self-Esteem in Young Children. Relationship of Self-Esteem to Self-Concept. Research Study: Is Positive Self-Esteem Related to Positive Social Behavior Toward Other People? Sources of Self-Esteem. Common School Practices Likely to Reduce Self-Esteem: Self-Esteem is Like a Balloon. Positive Methods of Enhancing Self-Esteem. Helping the Child Achieve Competence. Summary. 8. Tender Topics: Helping Children Master Emotional Crises. What Constitutes a Crisis? (Part contents).