This engagingly interactive and easy-to-read book outlines how to deliver quality early education and care through its focus on curriculum. Full-color throughout, this edition's features include more concrete applications in the book-and on the website.The author weaves five essential elements of effective early childhood education throughout the book: understanding development, play, guidance, working with families, and diversity. The book provides an overview of the planning, preparation, and delivery of a curriculum for young children, one that's built around six specific curriculum/content areas (physical development, emotional and social development; mathematics, science, and social studies; language and literacy, technology, creative arts, etc.), each explored in its own chapter. The author stresses the importance of play and the need to nurture each child's natural affinity for learning through experimentation and exploration. Separate chapters on the importance of the outdoor environment and the effect of technology on early childhood education help to complete this well-rounded presentation.For pre-service teachers; covers infancy through 3rd grade.