This book describes six standards for high quality early childhood programs that are firmly rooted in research on child development and early childhood education. Based on these six standards, recommendations are made for parents in selecting a high quality early childhood program for their children, as well as for administrators and educators to improve the quality of learning experiences that they offer to young children. The book also describes paradigm shifts that are necessary for early childhood programs to meet the goal of helping young children identify and develop their gifts and abilities.