Early Childhood Education Commons^™

Assessing Adult Perceptions Of Sexual Behavior In The Early Childhood Setting, Jamie Spencer

M.S.Ed. in Early Childhood Research Projects

In recent years, there has been an increase in challenging behavior in early childhood settings

because of “sexual behavior”, making an understanding of healthy development in children crucial to the work of the early childhood educator. This study explores information gathered from early childhood educators throughout the state of Maine to assess adult perceptions, opinions, and attitudes about the concept of sexual behavior in early childhood settings, as well as needs for support. Utilizing an online survey tool, the study gathered feedback from 633 respondents throughout the state of Maine. The study revealed that while 72% of educators are comfortable …

Full Day Play Vs. Part Day Play, Ashley Mcdonald

M.S.Ed. in Early Childhood Research Projects

Early education is an essential part of development (Jalongo, Fennimore, Pattnaik, Laverick, Brewster, & Mutuku, 2004), however, there is much debate about what type of program will best meet the needs of young children. Programs have great variation with children attending as little as 12 hours a week to children attending 40 to 50 hours a week. A qualitative research design was used to analyze playful learning within a high quality early education center examining possible differences between a full day program and a part day program. The focus of this study was on the amount of time children spend …

Barriers To Parental Involvement, Emily J. Berry

M.S.Ed. in Early Childhood Research Projects

The research discussed in this paper explores parent and educator perspectives towards family involvement activities, and the barriers that cause lower participation rates. The foundation of this research is built from Bronfenbrenner’s (1977) ecological theory, asserting that children have more meaningful experiences when there is a positive connection between their mesosystems. This study surveys pre-k families regarding their perspective on the importance of parental involvement in school activities. Such activities include class celebrations, family activity nights, parent trainings/workshops, volunteering in the classroom, and attending pre-k parent groups. Parents report on the barriers preventing them from being able to attend school …

The Decline Of Family Child Care In Maine, Tammy Dwyer

M.S.Ed. in Early Childhood Research Projects

The purpose of this research will be to examine the decline of licensed family child care programs in Maine. Information gathered from Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services, (DHHS) Office of Child Care and Family Services, (OCFS) Child Care Licensing Department show a continuous decline of family child care in Maine over the last five years. Programs dropped from 1324 in July 2013 to 1109 in July 2017. (S. Bhuvanagiri, personal communication, July 17, 2018). The research will begin to identify the reasons that have caused the downturn. It will also begin to identify potential supports for family child …

Influential Factors Determine Parental Choice For Preschool Selection, Emily Dustin

M.S.Ed. in Early Childhood Research Projects

This study investigated what key factors influence the decision of parents and guardians in preschool program selection. The participants were parents/guardians of a small NAEYC accredited child care center located in New England. If high-quality preschools do not meet the desires and needs of the families they are serving, then the parents/guardians will be less likely to enroll their children in the program. (Glenn-Applegate, Justice, & Kaderavek. 2016). The results indicated that quality is the most important factor in the participant’s decision to enroll their child in the program. Other factors that influenced the decision were curriculum, and education of …

Children’S Use Of Books During The School Day And The Home Literacy Environment, Mary Maxfield

M.S.Ed. in Early Childhood Research Projects

The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of children looking at books in the reading area of the classroom and to see if there was a relationship with parent reports of the home literacy environment. Data was collected in a Career Technical School’s laboratory preschool classroom using a checklist for child book engagement. Also used was data from a survey, completed by parents, on the home literacy environment. Specifically of interest was children’s exposure to books as well as their interest in books while at home. The study found that the number of books at home did …

Exploring Technology Usage At Home And The Relationship To The Development Of The Tripod Grasp In Kindergarten Age Students, Courtney Schools

M.S.Ed. in Early Childhood Research Projects

This research explored the development of the tripod/pincer grasp of 16 Kindergarten aged students and the activities these children engaged in when at home, with particular focus on fine motor and technology usage (both passive and interactive). This research used a mixed methods approach, using both classroom observations and a survey filled out by parents of participating students. This research fills a gap in existing research regarding the link between technology use and fine motor control in young children, as very little currently exists. The research found that fine motor activities at home helped facilitate the development of the tripod/pincer …

Is There A Relationship Between Home Literacy Environments And First Grade Reading Levels?, Tiffany Frost

M.S.Ed. in Early Childhood Research Projects

This study investigates the connection between home literacy environments and first grade children’s reading levels. The study used the Fountas and Pinnell’s (Heinemann, n.d.) Benchmark Assessment System 1 to assess the reading levels of thirteen first grade students. The Familia Inventory (Taylor, 1996/2000) parent survey was used to assess home learning environments. On average, children that read on or above grade level live in homes where there is more parental modeling of literacy behaviors. School and public libraries are also used more frequently in the homes of children reading on or above grade level.

Exploring The Relationship Between Preschool Teacher Perceptions Of Positive Teacher-Child Relationships And Classroom Practice, Bethany Bilodeau

M.S.Ed. in Early Childhood Research Projects

In 2015, it was estimated that 4 million children entered kindergarten without the necessary skills to succeed (U.S Department of Education, 2015). This academic and social deficit places children at a disadvantage which can be avoided when children are exposed to supportive learning environments characterized by positive relationships (Curby, et.al, 2009). The CLASS observation (Pianta, La Paro, & Hambre, 2008) classifies best practices in teacher-child interactions which are placed in dimensions within three major domains. This research explores which dimensions teachers identify as important and the relationship with observed practices as identified by CLASS. 16 teachers ranked CLASS dimensions in …

Developing Risk Assessment Skills: The Role Of Parental Attitudes And Nature Play, Emily Murray

M.S.Ed. in Early Childhood Research Projects

The current culture in the United States seeks to minimize the amount of risk that children are exposed to. However, the opportunity to take risks, try one’s strengths, and experience uncertainty and failure have been shown to increase resiliency, independence, and overall well-being (Little & Sweller, 2015). Young children need the opportunity to take physical risks in their play in order to develop these traits and their understanding of their environment and the natural world around them. This action research study sought to understand parental attitudes towards young children taking physical risks and how they impact children’s risk-taking behaviors and …

Social Interaction And Interactive Technology In The Preschool Classroom, Kristina Tobey

M.S.Ed. in Early Childhood Research Projects

Increased use of technology in early childhood classrooms comes with new concerns about how technology may impact the development of social skills in young children. This mixed methods study examines how the use of a multi-touch table influences social skills and interactions of preschoolers in a head start setting. Eight children ages three to five were video recorded while using a multi-touch table during free choice time in groups of three for ten minute increments. Tracking sheets were used to track how often social interactions occurred for each child. Results indicated students played cooperatively 12% of their time and parallel …

Influence Of Family Style Meals On Self-Regulation In Preschool Children, Katherine Chandler

M.S.Ed. in Early Childhood Research Projects

This action research study looked at the connections between the frequency of family meal experiences and the self-regulatory capabilities of preschool aged children. Parents of 19 preschool children were surveyed to gain insight into the weekly frequency of family meals and discover how parents assessed their individual child’s capabilities. Within the preschool setting, children’s regulatory abilities were assessed through teacher evaluation of mealtime behavior. Both parents and teachers assessed four types of self-regulatory skills: individual table skills, interpersonal skills, health consciousness, and contributions to their family or school community. It was found that parents place high value on the communal …

Exploring The Connection Between Physical Activity And On-Task Behavior Of Kindergarten Students, Joann Meyer

M.S.Ed. in Early Childhood Research Projects

Increased academic demands on kindergarten students require them to be on-task for longer periods of time. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of increased physical activity breaks on kindergarten students’ on-task behavior during small group and independent center work. This mixed methods study employed an experimental design with an initial baseline phase followed by a physical activity treatment phase. Data was collected using a planned activity check observation method and observational field notes to compare on-task behavior during the two phases of the study. Data analysis indicated that physical activity breaks was associated with improved on-task …