What are the short- and long-term effects of academically vs. play-focused environments for learning?

How and when should we teach reading?

What are the purposes of Education? What is the best way to teach mathematics to children, from preschool and beyond?

Contemporary Debates in Childhood Education and Development is a unique resource and reference work that brings together leading international researchers and thinkers, with divergent points of view, to discuss contemporary problems and questions in childhood education and developmental psychology. Through an innovative format whereby leading scholars each offer their own constructive take on the issue in hand, this book aims to inform readers of both sides of a variety of topics and in the process encourage constructive communication and fresh approaches.

Spanning a broad spectrum of issues, this book covers:

Phonic and whole language reading approaches

The developmental effect of non-parental childcare

The value of pre-school academic skill acquisition

The most effective methods of teaching mathematics

Standardized assessment – does it work?

The role of electronic media and technology

The pedagogical value of homework

The value of parents’ reading to children.

This book combines breadth of vision with cutting edge research and is a ‘must have’ resource for researchers, students and policy makers in the fields of education and child development.

Contents

Introduction 1. What are the purposes of education? The purpose of education – a "post-liberal" perspective Bo Dahlin Intellectual goals in the early years Lilian G. Katz De Groot’s lesson John Sweller 2. What is the effect of non-parental childcare on child development? Why non-maternal childcare can be good for children and families: research and policy implications Lynne Vernon-Feagallison De Marco Delegated parenting: some neuroendocrine reservations Aric Sigman 3. Is shared-book reading an indispensable ingredient of responsible parenting? Shared-book reading: There is no downside for parents Catherine McBride-Chang The tyranny of shared book-reading Elaine Reese 4. What Should Be Done to Foster Children's Mathematical Development in the Preschool Years? Mathematics for the whole child Julie Sarama, Ph.D. and Douglas H. Clements, Ph.D. Fostering mathematical thinking through playful learning Kelly Fisher, Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, and Roberta M. Golinkoff 5. What is the role of digital media in early education? Extending opportunities for learning: The role of digital media in early education Lydia Plowman, Joanna McPake, and Christine Stephen The inappropriateness of ICT in early childhood arguments from philosophy, pedagogy, and developmental research Richard House 6. How is School Readiness Best Fostered? Promoting school readiness: an integrative framework Frederic...