Early Childhood Education

The first three years of life are the time of greatest brain growth and development, so the encouragement and support a baby receives during this stage will have long-lasting effects on his or her future growth. Presented by an occupational therapist who has worked in the pediatrics field for over 16 years, this two-part series shows parents how to stimulate the growth of cognitive skills, play and motor skills, and communication abilities in infants and toddlers. Each episode focuses on maximizing a child’s potential through sensory exercises, language development, ways to explore attachment and bonding, and many other easy-to-comprehend lessons. Appropriate for caregivers as well as parents. 2-part series, 61 & 66 minutes.

It’s said that babies are pre-wired to learn. Exploring that idea through the eyes of infants and toddlers, this six-part series shows how babies are programmed to seek out experiences that help transform them into thinking, feeling, active people. Each episode focuses on one human characteristic—awareness, movement, manual dexterity, communication, thinking skills, or socialization—and tracks the growth and development of that aspect in a handful of young children over the course of several months. An ideal tool for instructors who want to show childhood’s rapid changes using a concise video format. 6-part series, 25 minutes each.

In the year 2000, producers for the BBC began documenting the growth and development of 25 newborn children from a wide range of social, ethnic, and geographical backgrounds. This 12-part series shows viewers the results so far, capturing pivotal stages in each child’s learning process, manner of socialization, and physical development. Students of child psychology, early childhood education, and multicultural education will encounter detailed information and numerous case studies in these programs, while course instructors will find a wealth of material with which to launch lectures and discussions. A BBC/Open University Co-production. Original broadcast title: Child of Our Time. 12-part series, 60 minutes each.

Neuro-imaging has greatly improved our understanding of speech development. This video shows how the early detection and treatment of speech problems could potentially help a generation of children. (22 minutes)

Kids who grow up facing brutality and neglect are lucky if a teacher or day care provider catches on. Tragically, child abuse often goes unnoticed—and if a first responder does detect it, he or she may not understand what measures must be taken. This program spells out the four Rs of child abuse—the harsh reality of its presence in our society, the results it leads to, the many ways to recognize it, and the proper channels for reporting it. Each of these concepts is explained through eye-opening dramatizations and supported by interviews with education and child welfare experts. By following the program’s clearly illustrated steps to awareness and action, viewers will become better equipped to recognize and intervene in cases of neglect and abuse…while there’s still time to help. A viewable/printable presenter’s guide is available online. A Meridian Production. (25 minutes)

There is no shortage of conflicting information on why children do the things they do. This two-part series helps viewers understand the multifaceted process of child development by presenting the theories of some of the field’s most influential thinkers. Examining models that focus on the mind, feelings, physical development, or social context, along with the ideas of early educational reformers, the programs suggest drawing from several philosophies to create a complete framework for raising and educating the “whole child.” 2-part series, 16–27 minutes each.