"This accessible and engaging work introduces current and future teachers, child care providers, and others interested in early childhood education to the importance of the early years in children’ well-being and success. It summarizes the research on the value of high-quality services for young children, families, and society, showing why early education matters both today and into the future. Emphasizing the need to understand and respect young children’ strengths and unique characteristics, the authors offer inspiration for working in the field, as well as addressing the realistic challenges of implementing developmentally appropriate care and education. Each chapter begins with an introductory vignette focused on one child whose experiences are typical of other children in the same age group or life circumstances, using that child’ experiences to draw out what the best research tells us about why early care and education matters for that group of children. The book
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