Mary Benson McMullen – författare

With its real-life stories and invitations for reflection and conversation, this book is an ideal professional development resource for pre- and in-service birth–age 3 professionals. The author shares lived experiences of being in four distinctly different baby rooms as a researcher over extended periods of time. She frames each life story around elements of well-being and asks readers to consider whether and how environmental and relational factors supported or hindered the physical, psychological, and emotional well-being of the children and adults. The author encourages readers to see themselves in the stories, to consider how they may have acted in the circumstances described, and to deliberate on their own practices and beliefs. With empathy and respect, McMullen fully conveys an intent to elevate, celebrate, and honor those who spend their days in infant toddler care and education, while examining the critical role all adults in society play in the lives of our youngest citizens.Book Features:Invites personal reflection and discussion with colleagues in the form of prompts and questions after each story.Provides a friendly but scholarly look at the spaces, conditions, and quality of birth-to-age three settings, the area of fastest growing need in early childhood care and education (ECCE). Focuses on the well-being of the adults and children featured in the book, providing a holistic perspective on their needs, motivations, and experiences. Emphasizes a here-and-now perspective in contrast to books that tend to focus primarily on preparing children for future outcomes and accomplishments.

With its real-life stories and invitations for reflection and conversation, this book is an ideal professional development resource for pre- and in-service birth–age 3 professionals. The author shares lived experiences of being in four distinctly different baby rooms as a researcher over extended periods of time. She frames each life story around elements of well-being and asks readers to consider whether and how environmental and relational factors supported or hindered the physical, psychological, and emotional well-being of the children and adults. The author encourages readers to see themselves in the stories, to consider how they may have acted in the circumstances described, and to deliberate on their own practices and beliefs. With empathy and respect, McMullen fully conveys an intent to elevate, celebrate, and honor those who spend their days in infant toddler care and education, while examining the critical role all adults in society play in the lives of our youngest citizens.Book Features:Invites personal reflection and discussion with colleagues in the form of prompts and questions after each story.Provides a friendly but scholarly look at the spaces, conditions, and quality of birth-to-age three settings, the area of fastest growing need in early childhood care and education (ECCE). Focuses on the well-being of the adults and children featured in the book, providing a holistic perspective on their needs, motivations, and experiences. Emphasizes a here-and-now perspective in contrast to books that tend to focus primarily on preparing children for future outcomes and accomplishments.

The essential resource to the issues surrounding childhood care and education with contributions from noted expertsThe Wiley Handbook of Early Childhood Care and Education is a comprehensive resource that offers a review of the historical aspects, best practices, and the future directions of the field. With contributions from noted experts in the field, the book contains 30 interdisciplinary essays that explore in-depth the central issues of early childhood care and education. The handbook presents a benchmark reference to the basic knowledge, effective approaches to use with young children, curriculum design, professional development, current policies, and other critical information.The expert contributors address the myriad complex policy and practice issues that are most relevant today. The essays provide insight into topics such as child development and diversity, the sociocultural process of child development, the importance of the home environment in the lives of young children, early childhood special education, teaching and learning literacy, and much more. This important resource: Presents a comprehensive synopsis of the major components of the field of early childhood care and educationContains contributions from leading scholars, researchers, and experts in the fieldOffers the foundational knowledge and practices for working with young childrenPuts the focus on how early childhood works and presents an understanding of culture as a foundational component of both child development and early childhood educationWritten for academic scholars, researchers, advocates, policymakers, and students of early childhood care and education, The Wiley Handbook of Early Childhood Care and Education is a comprehensive resource to the major issues for dealing with childhood care and education with contributions from noted scholars in the field.

This book applies the principles of Friedrich Froebel (1782-1852) to infant-toddler care and education today in England, the USA, New Zealand, and Hong Kong. The book contributes to critical debates on the application of Froebelian principles, including unity and connectedness, play, nature, and creativity, and makes recommendations for practice in infant-toddler education and care settings in diverse cultural contexts. The authors present new research from ethnographic studies carried out in the four countries which investigate pedagogies of care with one-year-olds in infant-toddler settings. To avoid perpetuating a universal approach, the book presents multiple perspectives based on the diverse cultures across the four countries. Throughout the book, connections are made between Froebelian principles, infant-toddler pedagogy, and early learning.

This book applies the principles of Friedrich Froebel (1782-1852) to infant-toddler care and education today in England, the USA, New Zealand, and Hong Kong. The book contributes to critical debates on the application of Froebelian principles, including unity and connectedness, play, nature, and creativity, and makes recommendations for practice in infant-toddler education and care settings in diverse cultural contexts. The authors present new research from ethnographic studies carried out in the four countries which investigate pedagogies of care with one-year-olds in infant-toddler settings. To avoid perpetuating a universal approach, the book presents multiple perspectives based on the diverse cultures across the four countries. Throughout the book, connections are made between Froebelian principles, infant-toddler pedagogy, and early learning.