NAEYC Position Statements

• Anti-Discrimination Statements
• Call for Vigilance and Action by All Policymakers on Behalf of Children and Families
• Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment
• Developmentally Appropriate Practice
• Early Childhood Curriculum, Assessment, and Program Evaluation
• DEC/NAEYC Position on Early Childhood Inclusion (PDF)
• Responding to Linguistic and Cultural Diversity

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Where We Stand Summaries

• Screening and Assessment of Young English-Language Learners (PDF)
• Screening and Assessment of Young English-Language Learners (Spanish) (PDF)
• Respecting and Responding to Diversity (PDF)

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From Young Children

May 2012

• “Family Literacy Packs: Engaging Teachers, Families, and Young Children in Quality Activities to Promote Partnerships for Learning”/ Barbara G. Hammack, Martha M. Foote, Stephen Garretson, and Josh Thompson

March 2012

• “Helping Families Connect Early Literacy with Social-Emotional Development”/ Rosa Milagros Santos, Angel Fettig, and LaShorage Shaffer
• “Play School: Where Children and Families Learn and Grow Together”/ Lori Berger McDermott

November 2011

• “Supporting Native Indian Preschoolers and Their Families: Family-School-Community Partnerships” (PDF)/ M. Susan McWilliams, Tami Maldonado-Mancebo, Paula S. Szczepaniak, and Jacqueline Jones

September 2011

• “Animosh Tracks on the Playground, Minnows in the Sensory Table: Incorporating Cultural Themes to Promote Preschoolers’ Critical Thinking in American Indian Head Start Classrooms”/ Mia Dubosarsky, Barbara Murphy, Gillian Roehrig, Linda C. Frost, Jennifer Jones, and Stephan P. Carlson with Nette Londo, Carolyn J.B.Melchert, Cheryl Gettel, and Jody Bement
• “Collaborating with Families from Diverse Cultural and Linguistic Backgrounds: Considering Time and Communication Orientations”/ Gregory A. Cheatham and Rosa Milagros Santos

March 2011

• “The Impact of Teachers and Families on Young Children’s Eating Behaviors”/ Erin K. Eliassen

January 2011

• “Rocking and Rolling. Supporting Infants, Toddlers, and Their Families: Supporting Breastfeeding in Your Program” (PDF)/ Amanda Perez
• “Strategies and Practices for Working with Immigrant Families in Early Education Programs”/ Colleen K. Vesely and Mark R. Ginsberg

July 2010

• “Optimizing Mothers’ Social Networks: Information-Sharing Strategies”/ Cynthia O’Nell Lashley with Liana Giannoni
• “Supporting Transitional Families” (PDF)/ Eun Kyeong Cho, Dora W. Chen, and Sunghee Shin

May 2010

• “Boot Camp for New Dads: The Importance of Infant-Father Attachment”/ Rolland R. Janairo, Just Holm, Theresa Jordan, and Nida S. Wright
• “Young Children Can Be Key in Fire-Safe Families”/ Carolyn E. Kourofsky and Robert E. Cole

March 2010

• “Family Involvement: Challenges to Consider, Strengths to Build On”/ Mariana Souto-Manning

January 2010

• “Do No Harm: Creating Welcoming and Inclusive Environments for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Families in Early Childhood Settings” (with an online handout) (PDF)/ Tracy Burt, Aimee Gelnaw, and Lee Klinger Lesser
• “On Our Minds. Talking to Families of Infants and Toddlers about Developmental Delays”/ At Risk and Special Needs Forum, Cindy Croft

November 2009

• “Family Ties. Helping All Families Participate in School Life”/ Yoo-Seon Bang
• “Science Learning at Home: Involving Families”/ Elizabeth Outlaw Crawford, Emily T. Heaton, Karen Heslop, and Kassandra Kixmiller

September 2009

• “Partnering with Families of Children with Special Needs” (PDF)/ Julie A. Ray, Julia Pewitt-Kinder, and Suzanne George
• “Resources for Families and Teachers—Essential Partnerships” (PDF)
• “Ten Tips for Involving Families through Internet-Based Communication” (PDF)/ Sascha Mitchell, Teresa S. Foulger, and Keith Wetzel

March 2009

• “Meeting the Home Language Mandate: Practical Strategies for All Classrooms”/ Karen Nemeth

May 2007

• “Missing! Picture Books Reflecting Gay and Lesbian Families: Make the Curriculum Inclusive for All Children” (PDF)/ Elizabeth H. Rowell

March 2007

• “Coming Together for Children: Six Community Partnerships Make a Big Difference” (PDF)/ compiled by Susan Friedman
• “Resources for Linking with Community Partners to Better Serve Children and Families” (PDF)
• “Strengthening Families: Community Strategies That Work” (PDF) (including additional profiles that appear only online)/ Maril Olson
• “The Looping Classroom: Benefits for Children, Families, and Teachers”/Mary Hitz, Mary Somers, and Christee Jenlink

September 2006

• “Using Children's Texts to Communicate with Parents of English-Language Learners”/ Soyoung Lee

January 2006

• “Resources for Supporting and Involving Families in Meaningful Ways” (PDF)
• “Supporting Families of Children with Disabilities in Inclusive Programs: A Team Approach” (PDF)/ Louise A. Kaczmarek
• “Understanding Families: Applying Family Systems Theory to Early Childhood Practice” (PDF)/ Linda Garris Christian

November 2005

• “Contemporary American Indian Cultures in Children’s Picture Books” (PDF)/ Lisen Roberts, Eliza Dean, and Marna Holland
• “Empathy and Cultural Competence: Reflections from Teachers of Culturally Diverse Children” (PDF)/ Michaela W. Colombo
• “Taking the Next Step: Preparing Teachers to Work with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Children” (PDF)/ Jerlean Daniel and Susan Friedman
• “What If All the Children in My Class Are White? Historical and Research Background” (PDF)/ Louise Derman-Sparks and Patricia G. Ramsey

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From Teaching Young Children

Message in a Backpack handouts

• Print and share copies of these pages (avilable in English and Spanish) from each issue of Teaching Young Children with the families in your program to build a strong home-school connection and extend the learning to the home environment. 

April/May 2012

• “Engaging Our Families”/ Peter John

February/March 2012

• “Teachers’ Lounge. Partnering with a Family to Address a Child’s Needs” (PDF)
• “Teaching Vocabulary in Preschool: Teachers, Children, and Families”/Linda Shidler

December 2009 /January 2010

• “Now Read This! Reading Aloud in Two Languages”
• “Welcome Families to Curriculum Night”/Melissa Schulz

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From NAEYC’s Online Store

Books

• Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves/ Louise Derman-Sparks and Julie Olsen Edwards
• A World of Difference: Readings on Teaching Young Children in a Diverse Society/ Carol Copple
• Basics of Supporting Dual Language Learners: An Introduction for Educators of Children from Birth through Age 8/ Karen Nemeth
• Children, Language, and Literacy: Diverse Learners in Diverse Times/Celia Genishi and Anne Haas Dyson
• Diversity in Early Care and Education: Honoring Differences (5th ed.)/Janet Gonzalez-Mena
• Families and Community Relationships: A Guide to the NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standard and Related Accreditation Criteria/ Sharon Ritchie and Barbara Willer
• Family-Friendly Communication for Early Childhood Programs/ Deborah Diffily and Kathy Morrison, eds.
• From Parents to Partners: Building a Family-Centered Early Childhood Program/ Janis Keyser
• Getting It RIGHT for Young Children from Diverse Backgrounds: Applying Research to Improve Practice/ Linda Espinosa.
• Is Everybody Ready for Kindergarten? A Toolkit for Preparing Children and Families/ Angelé Sancho Passe
• Many Languages, One Classroom: Teaching Dual and English Language Learners/ Karen Nemeth
• One Child, Two Languages: A Guide for Early Childhood Educators of Children Learning English as a Second Language/ Patton O. Tabors
• Practice in Building Bridges: Companion Resource for Diversity in Early Care and Education (5th ed.)/ Intisar Shareef and Janet Gonzalez-Mena
• School Readiness and Social-Emotional Development: Perspectives on Cultural Diversity/ Barbara Bowman and Evelyn K. Moore, eds.
• What If All the Kids Are White? Anti-bias Mulitcultural Education with Young Children and Families/ Louise Derman-Sparks and Patricia G. Ramsey, with Julie Olsen Edwards.

Posters

• YC: Faces of Young Children. This beautiful poster with images appearing on the covers of Young Children will enliven any early childhood environment.
• Alike and Different. New version is larger and newly laminated! Celebrate diversity with this engaging poster.
• Connect. This beautiful laminated poster is a visual reminder on the importance of bonding. From Learning ZoneXpress.
• Teach Peace! Show that you teach peace in your classroom! This vibrant poster will inspire children to look to cooperation and understanding as a solution to their problems.
• Welcome Banner. The perfect welcome for all children and families in your school or center.
• All Kinds of Families (2-Poster Set). From Learning ZoneXpress
• Generations (2-Poster Set). Set of 2 different laminated posters. These beautiful posters celebrate the interaction between different generations. From Learning ZoneXpress.
• Mothers (2-Poster Set). Set of 2 different laminated posters. These touching photos and descriptive words inspire by example as mothers spend quality time with their children. From Learning ZoneXpress.
• Fathers (2-Poster Set). Set of two different laminated posters. These touching photos and descriptive words inspire by example as fathers spend quality time with their children. From Learning ZoneXpress.
• With Inclusion . . . We're All Winners. Sunny colors and a sunny message to brighten both rooms and children’s lives. Embrace inclusion and help all children to be winners.

Multimedia

• "Grandparenting: Enriching Lives" (VHS). Hosted by Don Francisco, this video provides grandparents with the latest information on child development, as well as guidance, ideas, and support for their essential role in the lives of their children and grandchildren. Also available in Spanish. Produced by Civitas. 30 min.
• "Partnerships With Parents" (DVD). Dramatizes how to establish and maintain positive communication and handle common problems teachers face in working with parents. Produced by South Carolina Educational Television. 28 mins.

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For Families Website

• NAEYC for Families provides a wealth of information for families of young children. Resources include a searchable database of NAEYC-accredited programs, a column by doctors T. Berry Brazelton and Joshua Sparrow, ideas for families to try at home, and research-based family friendly articles.

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Developed for NAEYC's Engaging Diverse Families Project through a generous grant from the Picower Foundation.
© National Association for the Education of Young Children.