Includes bibliographical references and index.

Cultural diversity in our contemporary society -- Creating culturally responsive early childhood environments -- Understanding cultural differences in family child-rearing practices -- Cultural influences on young children's social skills and behaviors -- Cultural influences on communication skills and styles -- School readiness and emergent literacy -- Professional development and cultural competence -- Appendices.

This guide for early childhood professionals working in group child care and preschools overviews the ways in which cultural differences influence young children's behavior, communication, and learning styles. It considers the major developmental domains of language and communication, social skills, school readiness, and emergent literacy. Examples are provided of curriculum and instructional adaptations that can be used to accommodate children from diverse backgrounds. The authors are affiliated with California State University. Annotation copyrighted by Book News Inc., Portland, OR.