This guide is designed to help care-givers, program directors, coordinators, administrators, trainers, licensors, families, and leaders in the field of early care and education recognize the special knowledge and skills needed to offer a nurturing group care environment to very young children. Contributors discuss meeting the needs of each individual child, recognizing early developmental stages, achieving necessary health and safety standards, creating good relationships, developing training and mentoring programs, linking with other community-based service systems, providing continuity of care, and being sensitive to cultural and linguistic needs.