NYTimes.com | Second- and Third-Language Immersion Preschools

Parents Take Language Class Into Their Own Hands
By Winnie Hu
Published: September 30, 2006

'[...] In the past five years, foreign-language studies for the under-5 set have become as common as art and music lessons, as the more laissez-faire parenting of earlier generations is replaced by packed schedules of daily activities. But in contrast to many urban centers, where bilingual nannies may function as language tutors and formal language courses abound, suburbs seldom offer parents access to those resources.
Dissatisfied with the limited choices in classes for young children, and the occasional foreign-language story hour at their neighborhood library, highly educated, well-traveled parents are increasingly pulling together their own bilingual playgroups, which sometimes grow so popular that they expand into full-fledged programs.[...]'

BBC NEWS | Education | Children 'deserve a childhood'

Tories intervene in dabate on childhood BBC NEWS | Education | Children 'deserve a childhood'

Sydney Morning Herald | Teaching tailored for the guys

In a class of their own - teaching tailored for the guys
by Anna Patty Education Editor
October 3, 2006

'[...]The boys-only kindergarten class at Bowen Public School in Orange is one of the first in NSW and is part of a strategy to tailor teaching to the special learning needs of boys.
"It is beneficial to the boys in terms of self-esteem not to have the competitiveness of girls in the class and the 'miss perfects' who can often be a threat to boys and undermine their self-confidence," Mr Jackson said.[...]'

San Francisco Chronicle | Late start to school, on purpose

KINDERGARTEN PREP Late start to school, on purpose
by Janine DeFao
Saturday, September 30, 2006

'An estimated 9 percent of children nationally are entering kindergarten a year later than they could, though there's little evidence that children perform better in school if they start late. This practice has become common enough to earn the nickname "redshirting," borrowed from a term for college athletes who don't play in their freshman year in order to spend the time building their strength and skills. [...]'

BBC - Radio 4 - The Invention of Childhood

A major radio series 'The invention of childhood' has begun. Its home page and assorted links can be found here. BBC - Radio 4 - The Invention of Childhood