When Young Children Need Help: Understanding and Addressing Emotional, Behavorial, and Developmental Challenges

Deborah Hirschland, MSW, has been working with young children and the adults who care for and teach them for over 25 years. A frequent presenter on early childhood issues, she provides training and consultation to Head Start and other early care and education programs across Massachusetts. Deborah is an early childhood consultant for the Freedman Center for Child and Family Development at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology, a contributor to the Zero to Three Journal, and the author of Collaborative Intervention in Early Childhood: Consulting with Parents and Teachers of 3- to 7-Year-Olds.

Almost anyone who works with three- to six-year-olds knows what it feels like to spend time with children who are particularly puzzling or challenging. This story-based book takes a close look at how early childhood professionals can make sense of what is going on with these hard-to-help children and provides a framework and practical strategies.

Working Table of ContentsPrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroductionPart I. GETTING SPECIFIC BEFORE GETTING TO WORKIntroduction1. From Reflection to Action: Looking Closely, Thinking Clearly, Intervening Effectively2. Generating "Maybes": Observing with Depth, Breadth, and an Eye for Surprises3. Spotlight on Development: Understanding the Building Blocks of Early Childhood Mastery4. Spotlight on Causation: Considering the "Why's" Behind Worrisome Behavior5. Developing Child-Specific Portraits: Making Sense as a Foundation for Making Progress6. Pathways to Growth: Joining Big Picture Thinking with Practical StrategiesPart II. CONNECTION IS KEYIntroduction7. Spotlight on the Three C's: Connection, Communication, and Cue Responsiveness8. Getting to Work with Hannah: Helping a Child with Dark Moods and a Dark Past9. Getting to Work with Hannah, Continued: Seeding the Day with Connection and Other Strategies10. Getting to Work with Jenny: Helping an Intensely Shy Child11. One Child is Delayed, The Other Despondent: Helping Children Climb (or Re-Climb) Developmental Ladders12. When Language is Limited: Helping Two Boys Who Struggle to CommunicatePart III. ADDRESSING PROBLEMS IN SELF-REGULATION Introduction13. Getting to Work with Gabrielle: Helping Out When Energy is High and Focus is Low14. Getting to Work with Brian: Helping an Easily Frustrated Child15. Getting to Work on "Big Feelings": Helping Children Who Get Swamped by Anger or Anxiety 16. Spotlight on Parenting: Helping Families Set Effective Expectations at HomePart IV: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHERIntroduction17. A Letter About Sam: Helping a Child with Multiple Challenges 18. Successes in the Sandbox: Big Changes Start with Small StepsAppendicesReferencesIndex