Special Topics in Early Childhood, Families, and Equity

Catalog description

Over the past three decades, the “science of early childhood development” has flourished. We now understand, more than ever before, the critical foundational period of early childhood and the consequences it has for lifelong health, education, and well-being. The proseminar is an introductory course, designed to provide you with an overview of major topics and historical and contemporary issues in the growing field of early childhood (birth to 8) and families nationally and internationally. In studying the broad dimensions of education and schooling, early childhood specialists draw from fields as different as neurobiology and housing to areas traditionally associated with young children’s learning and schooling. Such attention is important for all children and especially significant for children and families in marginalized and historically disenfranchised communities. Despite the heightened awareness regarding the problems and incremental change in the circumstances of some children, our responses to the issues fall short of understanding the complexity of dilemmas or addressing the multiplicity and depth of need facing young children and the diversity of families and communities of care who support their education, health, safety, and well-being.