Proceed with Caution...Children under Six.

Providing basic reference materials, this issue of "Children in the Tropics" consists of a revised and completed version of the 1982 issue on the development of children from birth to 6 years of age. Contents present a broad picture of the physical and mental development of children under 6 and formulate a number of recommendations about how to provide help and support for such children. Section I concerns child development. Section II discusses the education of young children in terms of child development and play, the child and the development of communication, and the child and expression. Section III focuses on health monitoring and education for young children, exploring different types of caretaking for young children, education for parents, and the educational program approach to learning. Section IV indicates some landmarks for the monitoring of child development which are based on experiences in Colombia. Provided are guidelines for monitoring the development of children under 6, a growth chart, and a pediatric grid for sensory assessment. Concluding materials include technical notes on the observation of young children and guidelines for building a short-term learning program. Supplementing the discussion are examples, technical notes, diagrams, and drawings which are intended as practical tools for specialists. (RH)