Includes index

Preschool : the big picture

A short history of preschool

Preschools in the twentieth century

Preschool and the great depression

The establishment of head start

Preschool today

Who's going to preschool?

How to use this book

The preschool marketplace

A working definition of preschool

Types of preschool

Why preschool?

The preschool program

Preschool ages and stages

The three-way partnership

Some good reasons for a child to go to preschool

Some not-so-good reasons for a child to go to preschool

Some good reasons not to send a child to preschool

Choosing a preschool

Preschool philosophies

The cost issue

Large versus small settings

When to start looking

Where to look

Inquiries

The school brochure

Licensing

Visiting preschools

A final word on choosing

Portraits of six preschools

Preschool checklist

A typical preschool day

The first days: seperation

What separation is and what it means

some separation scenes

Separation and timing

What parents should know about separation

Daily scheduling: three points of view

Feedback

Bringing preschool home

Preschool policy in action

Discipline

Health

Safety

Preschool language and reading

Cultural diversity

Nonsexist education

Everyday preschool routines

Clothes and dressing

Food

Physical play

Toileting

Show-and-tell

Child-to-child

Electronic learning

Special issues

Testing

Divorce, separation, singles

The handicapped preschooler

Emotional problems

When you and the preschool disagree