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<p> This study was a within subject, pretest posttest design intended to determine if a three session parent-training program (PTP) would be effective in facilitating morphosyntax in children with or suspected of having specific language impairment (SLI) over the course of 5 weeks. This was measured with the SPELT-P2. In addition, the researcher aimed to determine if parents learned from and were satisfied with the PTP, which was measured by a questionnaire given before and after the PTP was implemented. There were six parent-child dyads in this study. Three children participants demonstrated an increase in standard scores on the SPELT-P2 and three children participants demonstrated a decrease in standard scores. Parent participants demonstrated an overall increase in scores on knowledge, perceptions, and strategies learned during the PTP. Results and clinical implications are discussed.</p>

<p>The study used an embedded qualitative, historical, explanatory, case study design with a dominant quantitative, quasi-experimental pre-post, longitudinal, retrospective design. The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of Ludus Reading&mdash;a new reading program&mdash;in terms of kindergarten students&rsquo; reading perceptions and performance between the control and experimental group addressing the problem of illiteracy and aliteracy. Study participants included 73 kindergarten students. The results of the study were statistically significant (alpha = .05). The null hypothesis H1 was rejected (<i>F</i> (1,70)=15.01, <i>p</i> &lt;. 001). Consequently, the experimental group had higher means on KDRA2 (<i>M</i>=9.25, <i> SD</i>=5.11) than the control group (<i>M</i>=5.07, <i> SD</i>=4.25). The null hypothesis H2 was rejected (<i>F</i> (1,69)=6268.69, Wilks Lambda=0.68, <i>p</i> &lt; .001). Therefore, the experimental group had higher means on KDIBELS NWF-CLS (<i>M</i>=53.31, <i> SD</i>=21.51) than the control group (<i>M</i>=32.20, <i> SD</i>=18.99). The sub-null hypotheses were retained, signifying that moderating factors, gender and speech language services, did not influence the students&rsquo; reading performance. Qualitative data from learning profiles were explored, and emerging themes indicated that the experimental group enjoyed reading more than the control group because students from the experimental group used more descriptive emotion words to describe reading, and expressed a higher intensity level of enjoyment. </p>

Part 1. An 8.5 month prospective study was carried out to compare the risk of repeated infections in children attending different type of daycare facilities. Compared to children in family daycare, children in small daycare centres ($ le$20 children) had an increased risk of having $ ge$6 infections (odds ratio (OR) = 2.3; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.5-3.6); $ ge$5 upper respiratory tract infections (OR = 2.2; CI = 1.4-3.4); $ ge$2 occurrence of otitis media (OR = 2.6; CI = 1.0-2.6); and $ ge$2 episodes of gastroenteritis (OR = 1.5; CI = 0.9-2.4). Surprisingly this risk was not as high for children attending large daycare centres. Children who had spent at least 3 months in daycare before the beginning of the study were significantly protected compared to new attenders. These infections have important social and economical consequences since 96% of all episodes required a medical consultation. 68% were treated with antibiotics; and approximately 40% of episodes resulted in a parent taking time off work to look after their sick child. Further studies should be performs to assess the long term consequences of repeated infections. / Part 2. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial was implemented to evaluate the efficacy of an immunostimulator in reducing the occurrence of recurrent respiratory or ear, nose, and throat infections. The parents of 423 children agreed to participate (210 Imocur$ sp circler$ and 213 Placebo). One capsule was administered orally for 10 consecutive days a month for 3 months. Children were followed for a further 4.5 months giving a total of 7.5 months for the study. For the total study period the risk of presenting at least 4 episodes of respiratory or ear, nose, and throat infections was lower in the treated group than in the placebo group (26.7% versus 33.8%), but the difference was not statistically significant (relative risk (RR) = 0.79; confidence interval (CI) = 0.59-1.06). A similar result was observed for the risk of having $ ge$2 episodes of gastroenteritis (RR = 0.77; 95% CI = 0.47-1.25). In contrast, at the end of the three-month treatment period we observed a 48% reduction in risk of presenting $ ge$3 episodes of respiratory or ear nose and throat infections (RR = 0.52; 95% CI = 0.45-0.87) in the treated group. However, this clinically important and statistically significant decrease in risk of recurrent infections did not extend beyond this period. The tolerance of the drug during the trial was excellent. Since these results were obtained from an exploratory analysis, they should be confirmed in further studies.

<p> The following is a doctoral dissertation that studied administrators', teachers', and parents' perceptions and attitudes related to an early childhood center/preschool accreditation experience. A qualitative case study of one preschool center focused on the influence that the decision to pursue accreditation and implement the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) self-study process had on administrators, teachers, and parents. Interviews with administrators, teachers, and parents explored (a) issues that motivated the pursuit of NAEYC accreditation; (b) the NAEYC guidelines and their experience of the self-study and quality-improvement process; and (c) their perception of outcomes following accreditation. Current NAEYC guidelines are based on key child development theories and research, and require programs to integrate Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP) in school curricula and staff training. It was necessary to explore how these NAEYC recommendations regarding DAP were interpreted during the quality-improvement and accreditation process. Key themes and issues around the accreditation experience were revealed through analyses of qualitative data. This case study of NAEYC accreditation illuminated factors in the decision to pursue accreditation and implement quality improvements leading to NAEYC accreditation. This case may serve as a model of a successful accreditation process to encourage early childhood centers to undertake quality improvements and pursue national NAEYC accreditation.</p>

This multiple case study investigated children's literacy development in the context of current pedagogical practices of their preschools in three selected communities in India. / Thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 2009.

This multiple case study investigated children's literacy development in the context of current pedagogical practices of their preschools in three selected communities in India. / Thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 2009.

Although the paediatric literature in the area of executive function has expanded significantly over the past 20 years, there is still an imbalance of knowledge when compared to the adult literature. The present project sought to redress the balance in executive function research by (1) investigating the development of a wide range of executive processes in children between the ages of 3 and 7 years, and (2) examining the effects of early frontal lobe damage on the ongoing development of these skills.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.