Springer Promoting Positive Development in Early Childhood: Building Blocks for a Successful Start: 6 (The Search Institute Series on Developmentally Attentive Community and Society, 6)

This text introduces a unique strengths-based framework that identifies the spectrum of positive influences on child development inside and outside the home, as well as the qualities that can be nurtured with the help of community institutions such as schools. From the Back Cover The formative years – ages three through five – are critical to building a solid foundation for children’s long-term success. And although the relationship between children and parents is central to healthy development, a variety of community members and institutions – schools, programs, neighborhoods – often make important and lasting contributions. Promoting Positive Development in Early Childhood introduces Developmental Assets for Early Childhood, a unique strengths-based framework that identifies the spectrum of positive influences on child development inside and outside the home and the qualities that can be nurtured with their concerted help. Translating insight, evidence, and research into meaningful practice, this volume: Defines core areas of healthy development in terms of internal assets (e.g., positive identity and social competence) and external ones (e.g., empowerment and support), and includes both widely acknowledged and emerging concepts. Presents a holistic approach to development by addressing the multiple influences and structures shaping children’s lives. Emphasizes resilience as a key component in healthy development and prevention against future risk. Offers parents and community members practical guidelines informed by current theory and intervention design. Establishes continuity of development from early and middle childhood through adolescence. Promoting Positive Development in Early Childhood is essential reading for clinicians, researchers, and other professionals whose work focuses on helping young children grow and thrive, including developmental, clinical, and community psychologists, educators, social workers, and policy makers and agencies. About the Author Dr. Karen VanderVen has been involved with child and youth work for over 40 years. Following a number of years’ direct experience working with young children, youth, parents, and families in preschools, residential and group programs, and community mental health, she joined the faculty of the University of Pittsburgh, where she is now Professor of Psychology in Education in the program in Applied Developmental Psychology. Her interests include program design and intervention design science; play; early childhood curriculum; professionalization of early childhood and child and youth work; nonlinear dynamical systems theory applied to developmental issues; and life span and intergenerational issues.Dr. VanderVen has served as Senior Visiting Fellow at Search Institute, developing its Early Childhood Developmental Assets Framework as well as contributing to other projects; and as a Visiting Scholar at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, focusing on child and youth development. She was a co-founder of FICE-North America (the International Federation of Educative Communities). In the early childhood field, her activities, in addition to her direct work, have included serving as elected Secretary of the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators, making numerous national presentations at both the National Conference and Institute for Professional Development Conferences of the National Association for the Education of Young Children; working as a Mental Health Consultant for Head Start program; consulting to early childhood programs; conducting numerous trainings for early childhood staff; and serving on the boards of early childhood programs. She is a Certified Pennsylvania Pathways Early Childhood Trainer.Dr. VanderVen is the author of well over 200 professional publications, including books (e.g., Home, School and Community Influences on Young Children), monographs, invited