Early Childhood Family Education: Implementing the Minnesota Model = Education de la premiere enfance: Mise en oeuvre de modele Minnesota = La educacion de la familia y la ninez: Poner en practica el modelo de Minnesota.
Author(s):
Carlson, Helen L.
Format:
Report
Publisher:
1992.
Language:
English
Abstract:
Over a decade ago, the Minnesota state legislature funded the Council on Quality Education to create nine exemplary and experimental pilot programs to support young children and their families. One of the early models was a family-oriented, structured preschool activity that featured weekly 2-hour sessions during which parents of 4-year-olds worked with their children to build their cognitive abilities. Parents also attended separate parent discussions. Another project focused on training parents as teachers. This 30-week project taught parents with infants and young children to explore play with their children, and to observe and discuss problems with them. This model now forms the basis of early childhood family education programs throughout the state. The programs' major components are parent support, programming for early childhood education, and home learning experiences. Recent innovations in the program include family programs for at-risk parents, "Daddy with Kids" sessions, programs for foster parents and natural parents, parent sessions held from Native American and Hmong perspectives, and a discovery center for peaceful conflict resolution through play. A study of the long-term effects of these programs in one community revealed positive influences on the social and cognitive development of the children and on parent attitudes toward child rearing and education. (AC)