Child in the Family and the Community

This third edition ofThe Child in the Family and the Communityis still the same personal book, written to the reader from the author about the socialization of young children in child rearing, caring, and educational contexts. It focuses on developmental theory, but also on diverse perspectives. The style is different from most textbooks because of its emphasis on real-life experience and personal insight, in addition to academic discipline. The theory behind the practical emphasis is explained in terms of specific concrete examples. This text approaches learning by using constructivist theory and fits with Jean Piaget's ideas about learners attaching new knowledge to existing knowledge. In other words, readers are encouraged to reach into their own experience to make sense of new information in terms of what they already know. Because whatever we read is always filtered through our own subjective experience, this text acknowledges that fact and capitalizes on it. The author lets her voice come through as she tells personal stories and shares insights. Students are asked regularly to look at the issues, information, and examples the text presents in light of their own ideas, feelings, and experience. Examples given are designed to appeal to both traditional and nontraditional students by reflecting the demographics of the United States today. This book is based on twenty-eight years of experience teaching a course on socialization called "Child, Family, and Community" in early childhood departments in several community colleges and in the Child and Family Studies Program at Napa Valley College in northern California. It provides information that students need to work with and rear young children. It is written for early childhood students who plan to be teachers, caregivers, child care workers, family child care providers, or parents. General education students will also benefit. Trainers in the field will find -the book valuable for use in inservice training for teachers and child care workers; parent educators will find it useful as well. WHAT'S NEW IN THE THIRD EDITION The age range the text focuses on is now expanded from birth to 8 years of age in accordance with the definition of early childhood education. The first section shows a developmental sequence, with chapter 4 focusing more on kindergarten and primary children than in the past editions. The subject of play which had been mostly contained in chapter 3 about preschool children, has expanded beyond that chapter. Cognitive development as it relates to socialization as well as some information about brain research, is now included in this new edition. Because inclusion of children who have special needs has become more and more a focus in the field of early care and education, the needs of those children are addressed in greater detail in this edition. This information is important to students going into early childhood education because the field of special education and early education are working more closely together than ever before. The pedagogical material at the beginning and end of each chapter has been consolidated so it is not so daunting to the student. Teasers designed to pique the student's curiosity still open each chapter and discussion questions still end the chapters. The references and Further Reading sections are designed for the student who wants to go further into a subject. Of course, the new edition continues to focus on up-to-the minute issues, and gives an even broader coverage of topics than before. The extensive reference lists represent an expansive view of culture and gender issues, reflecting both recent and classic well-respected works in the field. This edition contains even more material on cultural perspectives, and racial, class, and gender issues, always emphasizing a multicultural/antibias approach for a pluralistic America. Perhaps the highest compliment paid toGonzalez-Mena, Janet is the author of 'Child in the Family and the Community', published 2001 under ISBN 9780130922519 and ISBN 013092251X.