FAQ for Submitted Young Children Authors | National Association for the Education of Young Children

For authors who have submitted to Young Children

What happens after I have submitted my manuscript through Manuscript Central?

How long does it take for a manuscript to go through the review process?

How can I see where my manuscript is in the review process?

For authors whose manuscripts have been accepted for publication in Young Children

How long does it take for my manuscript to be published?

How will I know when my manuscript is going to be published?

Before Acceptance

What happens after I have submitted through Manuscript Central?

After submitting a manuscript through Manuscript Central, you receive an automatic email with your manuscript ID number. Please use this number when contacting Young Children staff. This email means that your manuscript is in the system. It does not mean that your manuscript has begun the review process.

Your submission, whether a proposal or an article, is checked for proper formatting, appropriate page length, and inclusion of a cover page that details how one-third of the manuscript contains information for practitioners. If your submission does not meet all basic requirements, your submission will be unsubmitted with an explanation of what you need to do to meet the requirements. You may then resubmit a corrected submission at any time.

Once the formatting is approved, your manuscript moves into the first stage of the review process: initial reading by Young Children editors.

How long does it take for a manuscript to go through the review process?

The Young Children review process takes several months. This is due to the publication schedule, reviewers' schedules, the large number of proposals and manuscripts received, and the attention given to each submission. The table below describes the steps and duration of the process.

	Step	Time frame
1	Initial reading. Given the volume of articles we receive, not all articles can be sent out for review, nor can we provide individual feedback on articles that are not reviewed. The editor in chief determines whether articles will go out for review.	12 to 16 weeks after receipt
2	Peer review Articles that meet basic guidelines and address topics for which the journal is seeking content undergo peer review by members of NAEYC’s Consulting Editors Panel. About half of the submissions to Young Children are sent out for review.	16 to 20 weeks after receipt
3	Decision. Using all reviews as a guide, the editor in chief determines one of the following as the next step. Accepts the article. Asks the author to make revisions and resubmit it for further review (most articles require some revision) and possible acceptance. Advises the author that the article is not accepted. The editor in chief notifies the author of the decision via e-mail. This correspondence includes the reviewers' feedback and suggestions for enhancing the manuscript.	20 to 26 weeks after receipt
4	Revision. Authors submit revised articles, including a summary of what the author did to address the reviewers’ feedback, through Manuscript Central.	Within 6 months of authors' receipt of decision e-mail

How can I see where my manuscript is in the review process?

You can see the status of your manuscript by going into your Author Center in Manuscript Central. Under “My Manuscripts,” click on “Submitted Manuscripts.” At the bottom of the page, a window will display any or all manuscripts that you have submitted to Young Children. The “Status” column at the far right tells you where your manuscript is in the review process.

After Acceptance

How long does it take for my manuscript to be published?

After your manuscript has been accepted, it generally takes 12 to 24 months from the date of acceptance before the manuscript is scheduled for publication. Cluster articles follow a different time line and are published for a specific issue.

How will I know when my manuscript is going to be published?

The Young Children staff will email you once your manuscript has been scheduled for publication. At that time we ask for any revisions or updates to your manuscript, as well as any accompanying high-resolution images. You will also be asked to sign and return a copyright transfer that includes permission for publication in Young Children and online.