Conference Focuses on Early Education

It’s never too early to think about your child’s education, said experts at a four-day conference that began Wednesday at the Anaheim Convention Center.

The 52nd annual conference by the National Assn. for the Education of Young Children will address an array of issues on child development.

About 1,000 workshops will focus on beginning literacy, how music can help children learn math, federal and state child care policies, and multicultural curricula for young students. Hundreds of exhibits will display books, videos and other resources for teachers, parents and caregivers of children from birth to 8 years old.

This year’s event is expected to draw about 25,000 people from across the nation. That would make it one of the largest gatherings in the organization’s history, officials said.

“That’s because there’s certainly a lot more public campaigns advocating for child care and the importance of the childhood years,” said Barbara Willer, spokeswoman for the NAEYC, a Washington-based organization comprising mainly childhood professionals.

Early child care has gained widespread attention this year because of President Clinton’s $300-million proposal to provide more training scholarships for day-care providers and boost their wages. And with welfare reform pushing single parents into the work force, the demand for child care is expected to grow significantly, experts said.

A growing body of child development research also contributes to the rising interest in early education. Panelists at the conference will offer advice on how to evaluate child care, set up literacy programs that link preschools and families, and create strategies that help children develop self-control.

Academic researchers also will present their work on subjects as varied as the educational effects of the TV show “Sesame Street” and how Caribbean music is an effective medium for teaching math. Some sessions will be offered in Spanish.

For more information about the conference, call the Anaheim Convention Center, (714) 999-8900, and ask for NAEYC headquarters.