Description:This revised and updated edition provides essential social, historical, and philosophical perspectives in the field of early childhood education. Leading scholars and practitioners examine a variety of today's most significant and challenging subjects, including child development research, play, program models, assessment, diversity, inclusion, public policy, and advocacy. New for the Second Edition: definitions and metaphors for the major terms—trends, issues, controversies, and challenges—that serve as the organizational structure for the book; a chapter delineating the issues on emergent literacy development, such as emergent literacy versus reading readiness, reading aloud versus phonemic awareness, and print skills versus books; and an easy-to-use three-part organization—Child and Family Issues, Curricular Trends and Issues Affecting Practice, and Policy and Professional Development Issues.