The quality of early childhood education and care programs greatly impacts children’s development and well being. The classroom environment, program content and approach and early childhood educators’ characteristics are some of the elements that influence quality and thus have effects on young children’s development. Past research has indicated that early childhood education and care programs in Quebec have received on average low/minimal or mediocre ratings of quality and were also found to lack developmentally appropriate play materials (Drouin, Bigras, Fournier, Desrosiers, & Bernard, 2004; Goelman et al., 2006; Japel, Tremblay, & Cote, 2005). The present study set out to explore elements that may influence the quality of child care classrooms in the province of Quebec. Early childhood educators’ knowledge and developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) were examined to determine the relationship between these elements. Early childhood educators’ knowledge of developmental milestones (KDM) and knowledge of appropriate play materials (KPM) were found to be weak but educators reported strong developmentally appropriate beliefs (BDAP) and practices (PDAP). Results demonstrated positive correlations between early childhood educators’ declarative knowledge of developmental milestones (KDM), knowledge of appropriate play materials (KPM) and their beliefs and practices of developmentally appropriate practice (BDAP and PDAP). Educators’ levels of declarative KDM were positively correlated with their level of declarative KPM. In addition, educators’ BDAP was positively correlated with their level of declarative KPM, but their reported DAP was not linked to their level of KDM. Implications for the field of ECEC as well as early childhood education programs in CEGEPs and Universities in Quebec and across Canada are discussed in light of the study’s findings and limitations.

The quality of early childhood education and care programs greatly impacts children’s development and well being. The classroom environment, program content and approach and early childhood educators’ characteristics are some of the elements that influence quality and thus have effects on young children’s development. Past research has indicated that early childhood education and care programs in Quebec have received on average low/minimal or mediocre ratings of quality and were also found to lack developmentally appropriate play materials (Drouin, Bigras, Fournier, Desrosiers, & Bernard, 2004; Goelman et al., 2006; Japel, Tremblay, & Cote, 2005). The present study set out to explore elements that may influence the quality of child care classrooms in the province of Quebec. Early childhood educators’ knowledge and developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) were examined to determine the relationship between these elements. Early childhood educators’ knowledge of developmental milestones (KDM) and knowledge of appropriate play materials (KPM) were found to be weak but educators reported strong developmentally appropriate beliefs (BDAP) and practices (PDAP). Results demonstrated positive correlations between early childhood educators’ declarative knowledge of developmental milestones (KDM), knowledge of appropriate play materials (KPM) and their beliefs and practices of developmentally appropriate practice (BDAP and PDAP). Educators’ levels of declarative KDM were positively correlated with their level of declarative KPM. In addition, educators’ BDAP was positively correlated with their level of declarative KPM, but their reported DAP was not linked to their level of KDM. Implications for the field of ECEC as well as early childhood education programs in CEGEPs and Universities in Quebec and across Canada are discussed in light of the study’s findings and limitations.

Inappropriate parental expectations of age-appropriate behaviors and unawareness of developmental milestones can increase instances of child maltreatment. Additionally, experiences of child maltreatment can have a negative impact on the developmental trajectory of a child. The present research describes a parental aide, the tDevelop, delivered to parents at risk for child maltreatment through SafeCare Parent-Child Interaction (PCI) training with the aim of increasing identification of developmental milestones and age-appropriate activities. Two high-risk families with children close to 24-months of age were recruited from a residential program for young mothers working to develop self-sufficiency skills. The families were presented with the tDevelop along with traditional PCI information, including Planned Activities Training and age-appropriate activities. Data from a multiple-probe, single-case experimental design, suggest that mothers are able to recognize developmental milestones with increased accuracy upon intervention with the tDevelop. These findings suggest that the enhanced PCI protocol may enhance parental identification of developmental milestones.

The quality of early childhood education and care programs greatly impacts children’s development and well being. The classroom environment, program content and approach and early childhood educators’ characteristics are some of the elements that influence quality and thus have effects on young children’s development. Past research has indicated that early childhood education and care programs in Quebec have received on average low/minimal or mediocre ratings of quality and were also found to lack developmentally appropriate play materials (Drouin, Bigras, Fournier, Desrosiers, & Bernard, 2004; Goelman et al., 2006; Japel, Tremblay, & Cote, 2005). The present study set out to explore elements that may influence the quality of child care classrooms in the province of Quebec. Early childhood educators’ knowledge and developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) were examined to determine the relationship between these elements. Early childhood educators’ knowledge of developmental milestones (KDM) and knowledge of appropriate play materials (KPM) were found to be weak but educators reported strong developmentally appropriate beliefs (BDAP) and practices (PDAP). Results demonstrated positive correlations between early childhood educators’ declarative knowledge of developmental milestones (KDM), knowledge of appropriate play materials (KPM) and their beliefs and practices of developmentally appropriate practice (BDAP and PDAP). Educators’ levels of declarative KDM were positively correlated with their level of declarative KPM. In addition, educators’ BDAP was positively correlated with their level of declarative KPM, but their reported DAP was not linked to their level of KDM. Implications for the field of ECEC as well as early childhood education programs in CEGEPs and Universities in Quebec and across Canada are discussed in light of the study’s findings and limitations.

A hipóxia-isquemia (HI) encefálica neonatal causa diversas seqüelas motoras e cognitivas permanentes devido à grande degeneração celular que ocorre no encéfalo dos neonatos. Esse dano é progressivo e gera atrofias visíveis em diversas estruturas encefálicas, principalmente hipocampo, estriado e córtex cerebral. Um estudo recente do nosso grupo de pesquisa mostrou que o tratamento com ácido fólico (AF) reverteu o déficit cognitivo e a diminuição da atividade da enzima Na+, K+-ATPase, em ratos submetidos à HI neonatal. Assim, buscando compreender melhor a possível eficácia do ácido fólico em tratar e/ou prevenir o dano causado pela HI neonatal, o objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar os efeitos do tratamento com ácido fólico na degeneração celular na região CA1 do hipocampo dorsal 24 horas após o evento lesivo e em diferentes marcos do desenvolvimento de animais submetidos à hipóxia-isquemia neonatal. Foram utilizados ratos Wistar de ambos os sexos que foram submetidos ao modelo de Levine-Rice no 7º dia de vida pós-natal, sendo divididos em quatro grupos experimentais: 1) controle tratado com salina (CTS); 2) controle tratado com ácido fólico (CTAF); 3) HI tratado com salina (HIS); 4) HI tratado com ácido fólico (HIAF). Os animais receberam uma dose intraperitoneal de AF (0,011 μmol/g de peso corporal) 24 horas antes, imediatamente antes e 24 horas após a HI ou, diariamente, até o 14° DPN. Não foram encontradas diferenças na quantificação de células imunomarcadas para caspase-3 clivada pela técnica de imunoistoquímica, porém na avaliação da densidade celular observou-se uma diminuição de células no grupo HIS 13 quando comparado com os grupos CTAF e HIAF no hipocampo direito. Tanto na análise qualitativa quanto quantitativa da ultraestrutura dos neurônios piramidais da região CA1 hipocampal também foi possível encontrar uma importante degeneração celular nos grupos submetidos à HI neonatal, predominantemente caracterizada pelo padrão necrótico, porém no grupo tratado com AF essa degeneração foi menos expressiva. Quanto aos marcos do desenvolvimento, não verificou-se diferença nem pela lesão nem pelo tratamento. A partir desse estudo, portanto, podemos concluir que 24h após a HI ocorre diminuição da densidade celular e evidente processo lesivo ao tecido hipocampal, mais expressivamente por necrose. Ainda, a suplementação com ácido fólico foi capaz de reduzir e/ou prevenir o dano celular na região CA1 do hipocampo ipsilateral à oclusão arterial. / Neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) causes diverse permanent motor and cognitive sequelae due to extensive cellular degeneration that occurs in the brain of neonates. This damage is progressive and generates visible atrophy in several brain structures, particularly the hippocampus, cerebral cortex and striatum. A recent study from our research group demonstrated that treatment with folic acid (FA) reversed cognitive deficits and decreased activity of the enzyme Na+, K+-ATPase in rats submitted to neonatal HI. Thus, in order to better understand the possible effectiveness of folic acid in recovering and / or preventing the damage caused by neonatal HI, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of treatment with folic acid on cell degeneration in the CA1 region of the dorsal hippocampus 24 hours after neonatal hypoxia-ischemia and at different developmental milestones of animals submitted to neonatal hypoxia-ischemia. Wistar rats of both sexes were submitted to the Levine - Rice model on the 7th postnatal day, being divided into four experimental groups: 1) control treated with saline (CTS); 2) control treated with folic acid (CTAF); 3) HI treated with saline (HIS) 4) HI treated with folic acid (HIAF). Animals received an intraperitoneal dose of FA (0.011μmol/g of body weight) 24 hours before, immediately before and 24 hours after the HI. No differences were found in the quantification of positive cells for cleaved caspase-3 by immunohistochemistry, but in the assessment of cell density was observed a decrease of cells in the HIS group when compared with the CTFA and HIFA groups in the right hippocampus. In the analysis of the ultrastructure of pyramidal neurons of the 15 hippocampal CA1 region was also possible to find an important cellular degeneration in the groups subjected to neonatal HI, predominantly characterized by necrotic pattern, but in the group treated with FA this degeneration was less expressive. As for developmental milestones, no significant difference was observed either by injury or by treatment. Concluding, 24 hours after HI occurs decreased cell density and evident degeneration process to hippocampal tissue, most significantly with death by necrosis. Yet, supplementation with folic acid was able to reduce and / or prevent cell damage in the CA1 region of the hippocampus ipsilateral to the arterial occlusion.

A hipóxia-isquemia (HI) encefálica neonatal causa diversas seqüelas motoras e cognitivas permanentes devido à grande degeneração celular que ocorre no encéfalo dos neonatos. Esse dano é progressivo e gera atrofias visíveis em diversas estruturas encefálicas, principalmente hipocampo, estriado e córtex cerebral. Um estudo recente do nosso grupo de pesquisa mostrou que o tratamento com ácido fólico (AF) reverteu o déficit cognitivo e a diminuição da atividade da enzima Na+, K+-ATPase, em ratos submetidos à HI neonatal. Assim, buscando compreender melhor a possível eficácia do ácido fólico em tratar e/ou prevenir o dano causado pela HI neonatal, o objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar os efeitos do tratamento com ácido fólico na degeneração celular na região CA1 do hipocampo dorsal 24 horas após o evento lesivo e em diferentes marcos do desenvolvimento de animais submetidos à hipóxia-isquemia neonatal. Foram utilizados ratos Wistar de ambos os sexos que foram submetidos ao modelo de Levine-Rice no 7º dia de vida pós-natal, sendo divididos em quatro grupos experimentais: 1) controle tratado com salina (CTS); 2) controle tratado com ácido fólico (CTAF); 3) HI tratado com salina (HIS); 4) HI tratado com ácido fólico (HIAF). Os animais receberam uma dose intraperitoneal de AF (0,011 μmol/g de peso corporal) 24 horas antes, imediatamente antes e 24 horas após a HI ou, diariamente, até o 14° DPN. Não foram encontradas diferenças na quantificação de células imunomarcadas para caspase-3 clivada pela técnica de imunoistoquímica, porém na avaliação da densidade celular observou-se uma diminuição de células no grupo HIS 13 quando comparado com os grupos CTAF e HIAF no hipocampo direito. Tanto na análise qualitativa quanto quantitativa da ultraestrutura dos neurônios piramidais da região CA1 hipocampal também foi possível encontrar uma importante degeneração celular nos grupos submetidos à HI neonatal, predominantemente caracterizada pelo padrão necrótico, porém no grupo tratado com AF essa degeneração foi menos expressiva. Quanto aos marcos do desenvolvimento, não verificou-se diferença nem pela lesão nem pelo tratamento. A partir desse estudo, portanto, podemos concluir que 24h após a HI ocorre diminuição da densidade celular e evidente processo lesivo ao tecido hipocampal, mais expressivamente por necrose. Ainda, a suplementação com ácido fólico foi capaz de reduzir e/ou prevenir o dano celular na região CA1 do hipocampo ipsilateral à oclusão arterial. / Neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) causes diverse permanent motor and cognitive sequelae due to extensive cellular degeneration that occurs in the brain of neonates. This damage is progressive and generates visible atrophy in several brain structures, particularly the hippocampus, cerebral cortex and striatum. A recent study from our research group demonstrated that treatment with folic acid (FA) reversed cognitive deficits and decreased activity of the enzyme Na+, K+-ATPase in rats submitted to neonatal HI. Thus, in order to better understand the possible effectiveness of folic acid in recovering and / or preventing the damage caused by neonatal HI, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of treatment with folic acid on cell degeneration in the CA1 region of the dorsal hippocampus 24 hours after neonatal hypoxia-ischemia and at different developmental milestones of animals submitted to neonatal hypoxia-ischemia. Wistar rats of both sexes were submitted to the Levine - Rice model on the 7th postnatal day, being divided into four experimental groups: 1) control treated with saline (CTS); 2) control treated with folic acid (CTAF); 3) HI treated with saline (HIS) 4) HI treated with folic acid (HIAF). Animals received an intraperitoneal dose of FA (0.011μmol/g of body weight) 24 hours before, immediately before and 24 hours after the HI. No differences were found in the quantification of positive cells for cleaved caspase-3 by immunohistochemistry, but in the assessment of cell density was observed a decrease of cells in the HIS group when compared with the CTFA and HIFA groups in the right hippocampus. In the analysis of the ultrastructure of pyramidal neurons of the 15 hippocampal CA1 region was also possible to find an important cellular degeneration in the groups subjected to neonatal HI, predominantly characterized by necrotic pattern, but in the group treated with FA this degeneration was less expressive. As for developmental milestones, no significant difference was observed either by injury or by treatment. Concluding, 24 hours after HI occurs decreased cell density and evident degeneration process to hippocampal tissue, most significantly with death by necrosis. Yet, supplementation with folic acid was able to reduce and / or prevent cell damage in the CA1 region of the hippocampus ipsilateral to the arterial occlusion.

A hipóxia-isquemia (HI) encefálica neonatal causa diversas seqüelas motoras e cognitivas permanentes devido à grande degeneração celular que ocorre no encéfalo dos neonatos. Esse dano é progressivo e gera atrofias visíveis em diversas estruturas encefálicas, principalmente hipocampo, estriado e córtex cerebral. Um estudo recente do nosso grupo de pesquisa mostrou que o tratamento com ácido fólico (AF) reverteu o déficit cognitivo e a diminuição da atividade da enzima Na+, K+-ATPase, em ratos submetidos à HI neonatal. Assim, buscando compreender melhor a possível eficácia do ácido fólico em tratar e/ou prevenir o dano causado pela HI neonatal, o objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar os efeitos do tratamento com ácido fólico na degeneração celular na região CA1 do hipocampo dorsal 24 horas após o evento lesivo e em diferentes marcos do desenvolvimento de animais submetidos à hipóxia-isquemia neonatal. Foram utilizados ratos Wistar de ambos os sexos que foram submetidos ao modelo de Levine-Rice no 7º dia de vida pós-natal, sendo divididos em quatro grupos experimentais: 1) controle tratado com salina (CTS); 2) controle tratado com ácido fólico (CTAF); 3) HI tratado com salina (HIS); 4) HI tratado com ácido fólico (HIAF). Os animais receberam uma dose intraperitoneal de AF (0,011 μmol/g de peso corporal) 24 horas antes, imediatamente antes e 24 horas após a HI ou, diariamente, até o 14° DPN. Não foram encontradas diferenças na quantificação de células imunomarcadas para caspase-3 clivada pela técnica de imunoistoquímica, porém na avaliação da densidade celular observou-se uma diminuição de células no grupo HIS 13 quando comparado com os grupos CTAF e HIAF no hipocampo direito. Tanto na análise qualitativa quanto quantitativa da ultraestrutura dos neurônios piramidais da região CA1 hipocampal também foi possível encontrar uma importante degeneração celular nos grupos submetidos à HI neonatal, predominantemente caracterizada pelo padrão necrótico, porém no grupo tratado com AF essa degeneração foi menos expressiva. Quanto aos marcos do desenvolvimento, não verificou-se diferença nem pela lesão nem pelo tratamento. A partir desse estudo, portanto, podemos concluir que 24h após a HI ocorre diminuição da densidade celular e evidente processo lesivo ao tecido hipocampal, mais expressivamente por necrose. Ainda, a suplementação com ácido fólico foi capaz de reduzir e/ou prevenir o dano celular na região CA1 do hipocampo ipsilateral à oclusão arterial. / Neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) causes diverse permanent motor and cognitive sequelae due to extensive cellular degeneration that occurs in the brain of neonates. This damage is progressive and generates visible atrophy in several brain structures, particularly the hippocampus, cerebral cortex and striatum. A recent study from our research group demonstrated that treatment with folic acid (FA) reversed cognitive deficits and decreased activity of the enzyme Na+, K+-ATPase in rats submitted to neonatal HI. Thus, in order to better understand the possible effectiveness of folic acid in recovering and / or preventing the damage caused by neonatal HI, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of treatment with folic acid on cell degeneration in the CA1 region of the dorsal hippocampus 24 hours after neonatal hypoxia-ischemia and at different developmental milestones of animals submitted to neonatal hypoxia-ischemia. Wistar rats of both sexes were submitted to the Levine - Rice model on the 7th postnatal day, being divided into four experimental groups: 1) control treated with saline (CTS); 2) control treated with folic acid (CTAF); 3) HI treated with saline (HIS) 4) HI treated with folic acid (HIAF). Animals received an intraperitoneal dose of FA (0.011μmol/g of body weight) 24 hours before, immediately before and 24 hours after the HI. No differences were found in the quantification of positive cells for cleaved caspase-3 by immunohistochemistry, but in the assessment of cell density was observed a decrease of cells in the HIS group when compared with the CTFA and HIFA groups in the right hippocampus. In the analysis of the ultrastructure of pyramidal neurons of the 15 hippocampal CA1 region was also possible to find an important cellular degeneration in the groups subjected to neonatal HI, predominantly characterized by necrotic pattern, but in the group treated with FA this degeneration was less expressive. As for developmental milestones, no significant difference was observed either by injury or by treatment. Concluding, 24 hours after HI occurs decreased cell density and evident degeneration process to hippocampal tissue, most significantly with death by necrosis. Yet, supplementation with folic acid was able to reduce and / or prevent cell damage in the CA1 region of the hippocampus ipsilateral to the arterial occlusion.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there is an association between developmental milestones of babies and the prevalence of spinal deformities in adolescents in Middelburg, Mpumalanga. The relationship between spinal deformities in a cross-sectional group of adolescents and parental recall was the focus of the study. One hundred and four adolescents were evaluated to determine if a spinal deformity was present. The subjects were then allocated to either the case (those with spinal deformities) or the control (subjects without spinal deformities) groups. The mothers of the subjects were then interviewed with regard to some of the developmental milestones of their offspring, and other factors which may have had an influence on the development of adolescent spinal deformities. The results showed that a perfectly "normal spine" was seldom found and that even in the control group some minor deviations, within normal limits, were present. Most of the mothers of subjects from the case group did not realise that their offspring had a deformity. There was a non¬significant trend for more crawlers to be present in the control group. Subjects who did not crawl, and who were also late walkers appeared to have an increased tendency to develop adolescent spinal deformities. Despite the fact that the schools approached were multi-racial, only white parents responded to the request for participation in this trial. The possible reasons for this should be investigated and a trial comparing the prevalence of spinal deformities amongst adolescents from all ethnic groups in South Africa should be conducted. Due to the possible recall bias of this study, it is recommended that a longitudinal study, commencing with the babies attending baby clinics in South Africa (representative of the South Africa population), be conducted to determine the influence of developmental milestones on the prevalence of spinal deformities in adolescence. / Dissertation (MPhysiotherapy)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Physiotherapy / unrestricted

The quality of early childhood education and care programs greatly impacts children’s development and well being. The classroom environment, program content and approach and early childhood educators’ characteristics are some of the elements that influence quality and thus have effects on young children’s development. Past research has indicated that early childhood education and care programs in Quebec have received on average low/minimal or mediocre ratings of quality and were also found to lack developmentally appropriate play materials (Drouin, Bigras, Fournier, Desrosiers, & Bernard, 2004; Goelman et al., 2006; Japel, Tremblay, & Cote, 2005). The present study set out to explore elements that may influence the quality of child care classrooms in the province of Quebec. Early childhood educators’ knowledge and developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) were examined to determine the relationship between these elements. Early childhood educators’ knowledge of developmental milestones (KDM) and knowledge of appropriate play materials (KPM) were found to be weak but educators reported strong developmentally appropriate beliefs (BDAP) and practices (PDAP). Results demonstrated positive correlations between early childhood educators’ declarative knowledge of developmental milestones (KDM), knowledge of appropriate play materials (KPM) and their beliefs and practices of developmentally appropriate practice (BDAP and PDAP). Educators’ levels of declarative KDM were positively correlated with their level of declarative KPM. In addition, educators’ BDAP was positively correlated with their level of declarative KPM, but their reported DAP was not linked to their level of KDM. Implications for the field of ECEC as well as early childhood education programs in CEGEPs and Universities in Quebec and across Canada are discussed in light of the study’s findings and limitations.

El Salvador has a large population of children living in orphanages where, as predictions from previous research indicate, many will not meet developmental milestones that could be remediated with research and development. The purpose of this study was to determine milestone achievement and environmental impact among Salvadorian orphans at selected sites, in order to make recommendations for appropriate training materials to allow for the mentoring of caregivers to advance milestone achievement among the orphans. The five objectives addressed in the research are in context of two investigator selected orphanages in El Salvador: 1. Determine the current level of development of orphans using the Battelle Developmental Inventory Screening Test. 2. Determine characteristics of caregivers who have frequent interactions with the orphans. 3. Determine areas of strength and deficiency among the orphans with respect to Personal-Social, Adaptive, Motor, Communications, and Cognition. 4. Determine the level of association between selected characteristics of orphans with developmental milestone achievement. 5. Develop a model caregiver-training program for implementation at the two selected orphanages based on investigator-derived characteristics and related findings. Screening Tool strengths and deficiencies were identified among the orphans with respect to Personal-Social, Adaptive, Motor, Communications, and Cognition. The Batelle Developmental Inventory Screening Tool in Spanish was completed on 34 qualifying children at Hogar Immaculado Corazon de Maria orphanage and an additional ten screening tools were completed on qualifying children at Casa de Mi Padre. Statistical analyses determined the level of association between selected characteristics of orphans with developmental milestone achievement. Using findings from this initial phase, a model caregiver-training program was developed and implemented at the two selected orphanages based on investigator-derived characteristics and related findings. Conclusions from the study and recommendations were developed from the findings. The level of achievement of developmental milestones among the selected orphans was below the expected level for their chronological age. The caregivers employed by the two orphanages were a diverse group of individuals from a variety of backgrounds. The majority of them described themselves as not having formal education in child development. The strong interest they demonstrated during the training program indicated an eagerness and willingness to learn. The areas of greatest deficiency were communication and cognitive scores. The areas of relative strength were Adaptive and Motor skills. There were few statistically significant relationships between the selected independent variables and the scores on the screening tool with the exception of association between motor scores and both the child?s nutritional status and the number of months they have spent in the orphanage. Months spent in the orphanage also show some evidence of association with communication scores, but not statistically significant. The model intervention program was successfully implemented and should be part of an on-going training program. Future research should replicate this study in similar setting and provide additional probes with a larger sample to substantiate these finding and more in depth understanding for enhancement of both theory and practice. / Ph. D.