When engaged in social studies, with guidance and encouragement from adults, children develop awareness of self and family and become active participants in the larger community. The knowledge and skills learned through social studies prepare children to become informed and engaged citizens of their country and the world. In this collection of articles from Young Children and Beyond the Journal, experts discuss the historic roots of the social studies field, explain how quality books can help children understand themselves and others, and provide many examples of teachers and children engaged in meaningful social studies. The book includes a list of key resources as well as questions and activities designed to aid readers in reflecting on the articles.

Home–school relationships have always been a cornerstone of children’s success and well-being. But cultivating positive, supportive partnerships between educators and families is an ongoing process, one that requires reciprocal respect and communication to grow. Use the practical information and ideas in this book to develop and embed a culture of family engagement in all aspects of your early childhood program, from curriculum planning to addressing children’s individual needs, by Creating a welcoming environment for families Providing many ways for families to engage in the program and their children’s learning Ensuring two-way communication and addressing communication challenges Building on learning opportunities families already provide at home Supporting diverse home languages and cultures Collaborating on community-wide efforts Packed with strategies, resources, and examples from early childhood programs, this book illustrates numerous ways to engage families in your early childhood community so that together, families + educators = thriving children.

Successful and effective preschool teachers use creative, engaging approaches to support the development and learning of every child in the classroom. The highly relevant and practical articles in this volume, drawn from recent issues of NAEYC's journal Young Children, offer research-based, developmentally appropriate strategies that preschool teachers can use or adapt for their work with young children and families. Each article celebrates and informs the work of preschool teachers.

How can you support children’s play, which is an essential part of development and learning? Play helps children learn to understand themselves and get along with others; explore their environment; investigate science, math, and literacy; learn about their communities; and much more. Use the articles in this collection that emphasize the importance of play—from infancy through the primary grades—to support and scaffold children’s play and connect play to learning. 

Edited and compiled just for teachers, this resource explains developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) so teachers can apply DAP in their work with children in first, second, and third grades. Chapters include: What Is Developmentally Appropriate Practice? A brief introduction to the main ideas of DAP Teaching Children in First, Second, and Third Grades Connecting DAP to excellent teaching An Overview of Development in the Primary Grades Overview of learning and development in first, second, and third grades Developmentally Appropriate Examples to Consider Examples of key DAP practices, as well as contrasting practices that are less likely to serve children well Supporting Children’s Learning While Meeting Standards Connecting the standards to DAP Young Children Articles Ten articles from Young Children that provide examples of applying developmentally appropriate practice when working with children in first, second, and third grades.