Designing interventions for preschool learning and behavior problems

"In response to recent federal legislation requiring earlier testing and assessment of children, preschool intervention programs are expanding rapidly. As the demand for such programs increases, so do the possibilities for controversy surrounding the practices now in place. In this book, David W. Barnett and Karen T. Carey present specific research-based home and school interventions that provide early childhood education specialists with the practical strategies they need in order to stop behavior and learning problems before it's too late." "Drawing on principles from developmental psychology, the authors stress a naturalistic approach to intervention design that takes into account the actual roles, routines, skills, and interests of both children and caregivers. They show how to identify and prioritize those problem behaviors best suited for intervention. And they explain how to train parents, teachers, and preschool personnel to enhance childrens' developmental skills, as well as how to cope successfully with children's long-term problems." "Each chapter provides a framework for assessment and intervention, including an overview of the empirical basis, a discussion of the key developmental constructs, and an analysis of potential risks. The emphasis is on individual programming and single-case design, which take into account the diverse needs of children at risk, handicapped children, and children who are simply difficult to parent, teach, or befriend. Barnett and Carey present methods for learning new behavior or modifying existing behavior, including techniques of ignoring, modeling, and reprimanding, and they discuss the legal, professional, and ethical concerns that arise from ineffective interventions."--BOOK JACKET.