Child, Family, and Community: Family-Centered Early Care and Education (5th Edition) (Paperback)

by Janet Gonzalez-Mena (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Written in an accessible style for all those who work with young children or will, the author asks the reader to think of the child in the context of the family and community. Reorganized and updated, the book continues to examine developmental theory, but now with a greater emphasis on Bronfenbrenner's theory of ecological development, discussed in Chapter 1, and more on the importance of contexts of development woven throughout. The book goes beyond encouraging mere parent involvement to how to develop a true collaboration and working relationship through good communication. It also continues to have strong coverage of cultural diversity and present personal examples and vignettes. The text explores many hot-button issues of the day such as supporting self-esteem, discipline, attachment, coping with separation, teen parents, child-abuse, children with ADHD, shy children, aggressive children, conflict resolution, problem solving, and gender issues. Full of real life examples and personal insights, the book is designed and written for not just teachers, but caregivers, child-care workers, and parents.All readers are expected to reach into their own experience, knowledge, ideas and insights to make sense of the new information in the text in the context of their own lives.

From the Back Cover

This popular text discusses the effect that contexts, such as families, child care programs, schools, media, and communities, have on child development and education. It provides many strategies for professionals to help children and families resolve conflicts, advocate,  understand issues and differences, and maximize children’s potential. Throughout the field, this text is known for its excellent coverage of cultural responsiveness and providing many helpful, descriptive scenarios. To respond to shifting needs, this edition includes some key changes:

 

Broader Theoretical Focus includes Ecological Theory and Family Systems Theory.  This edition expands the coverage of Bronfenbrenner’s theory of ecological development and helps students to look at children in the contexts in which they are raised so that they can better address their needs. Family systems theory gives students a framework for understanding family dynamics, which helps them to relate better to children and their families.

 

Expanded Coverage Includes New Chapter on School-Age Children.  Chapter 5 has been added to this edition to accommodate course coverage of school-age children. It includes discussion of children transitioning from the initiative stage to that of industry, how family-centered approaches can ease children’s entry into kindergarten, affirmations and the power of positive adult attention, and teaching morals by promoting prosocial behaviors.

 

Greater Focus on Strategies for Communicating and Working Collaboratively with Diverse Families. This revision includes new strategy sections in each chapter on “Strategies for Working with Diverse Families” and a more deliberate focus in the prose on including suggestions for working with all types of families in a collaborative way.

 

 

Author Janet Gonzalez-Mena is working on an NAEYC project, “Strengthening Family-Professional Partnerships”, which trains trainers and focuses on building relationships and communication strategies between ECE professionals and families. 

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 5 edition (April 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0135132304
• ISBN-13: 978-0135132302
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #56,303 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book On Family Centered-Learning , August 7, 2008

By	Reginald Williams (Denmark, SC United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Known for the "diamond standard" for infants and toddlers (i.e. INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND CAREGIVERS), Gonzalez-Mena shows her diversity with this solo-written text on the family aspect of early care and education.

Like her other text, Gonzalez-Mena prefers content over presentation which, in her case, is as right as rain. As usual, she eschews color pictures and innovative, dazzling graphic organizers in favor of outstanding pieces of knowledge (i.e. her nugget on working with families on guidance and disicipline on Page 171).

I love her approach because you get much more packed into a volume (for only 60 or so dollars) than you get in splashier books like, for example, Couchenor's family involvement book or Olsen/Fuller's text.

Give it a try.