Date of Award
1-1-1992
Document Type
Practicum
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Child and Youth Care Administration
Advisor
Mary Staggs
Committee Member
James E. Mills
Keywords
child care, child development, curriculum design, curriculum development, day care centers, drug abuse, drug addiction, drug education, early childhood education, health education, peer relationships, positive self-esteem, preschool children, preschool education, prevention curriculum, substance abuse prevention, teacher training
Abstract
This practicum was designed to field test a preschool, substance-abuse-prevention curriculum that had been developed by the writer, had been approved by an oversight panel of professionals, but never had been implemented with a preschool population. Curriculum content areas include enhancement of self-esteem and positive peer relationships, and factual information about drugs. The curriculum is to be disseminated free to all county preschools and child care centers.
The writer prepared the curriculum for use by adding photos, sketches and typesetting copy; trained teachers in use of the curriculum; pre- and post tested children in the curriculum content areas; obtained evaluations from a child care center staff associated with the curriculum; obtained input from an evaluation committee of early childhood and substance-abuse-prevention professionals; and, based upon results of the project, nodi fled the curriculum for final printing.
Results Indicated that the children who received the curriculum improved their ability to accurately identify pictured licit and Illicit drugs and to discuss then in health-related terms, and maintained their levels of self esteem and positive peer relationships. Center staff evaluated the curriculum as appropriate and as easy to Implement.