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Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Glossary
check-in services. Services that hire workers who
call the home to check whether the child has
arrived safely. (2)
checklist. Designed to record the presence or
absence of specifi c traits or behaviors. (3)
child care centers. Full-day child care facilities
that focus on basic nutritional, social,
emotional, intellectual, and physical needs
for children from birth to fi ve years of age.
May be operated by for-profi t owners or
corporation non-profi t agencies. (2)
child care license. A state-provided certifi cate
granting permission to operate an early
childhood center or a family child care
home. (2)
child-centered program model. A curriculum
format that allows children an opportunity to
do self-selected activities. (30)
Child Development Associate (CDA)
Credential. A national credential that requires
postsecondary courses in child care education
and a minimum number of hours of child care
experience. To be eligible for this credential,
a person must be eighteen years of age and
have a high school diploma. People who have
this credential have demonstrated their ability
to work with young children. (1)
chronic health need. An illness that persists over
a period of time. (31)
chronological. Describing the order in which
events happened. (3)
chronological age. An age determined by a birth
date. Also known as physical age. (10)
classifi cation. The ability to group objects by
common attributes, such as size, color, shape,
pattern, or function. (8)
closed wound. An injury to the tissue directly
under the skin surface but not involving a
break in the skin, such as a bruise. (13)
closed-ended questions. Questions requiring
few decision-making skills and most often
answered with yes or no. Also referred to as
single-answer questions. (24)
closure. The way an activity ends. (18)
coaching. Teaching skill that provides children
with ideas for diffi cult situations. (21)
cognitive development. Growth in the mental
processes used to gain knowledge, such as
thought, reasoning, and imagination. Also
called intellectual development. (4)
collage. A selection of materials mounted on a fl at
surface. (19)
color defi ciency. The inability to see a color. This
problem, also referred to as color blindness, is
hereditary. (31)
communicable diseases. Illnesses that can be
passed on to other people. (13)
compassion. Being aware of others’ distress and
wanting to help them. (8)
concept. A generalized idea or notion. (18)
concrete operations. The use of logic based on
what has been experienced or seen; takes
place during the ages of seven to eleven
years. Children develop the capacity to think
systematically, but only when they can refer to
actual objects and use hands-on activities. (4)
confi dentiality. The keeping private of sensitive
personal information involving other
people. (33)
confl ict. Two or more forces that oppose each
other. (21)
congenital disabilities. Disabilities present since
birth, but not necessarily hereditary. (31)
conscientious. Effectively careful. (30)
consequence. A result that follows an action or
behavior. (14)
conservation. The concept that change in position
or shape of substances does not change the
quantity. (8)
consistent. Quality of being the same every
time. (16)
constructivism. A theory of learning developed
from the work of Piaget and Vygotsky.
Children create an understanding of their
world only when they are actively engaged
working and interacting with people and
objects. (4)
consumable supplies. Supplies that, in most
cases, are used up and cannot be used again.
(10)
contactants. Objects that make contact with the
body through touch. (31)
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