N Home Learning Center Approach to Early

Approximately 258 mothers and their children (aged 3 months to 3 years) participated in a home visit program using paraprofessionals as home visitors on a once-a-week basis in the first two years of life, combined with a small-group setting for four hours a week for children 2 to 3 years old. Findings indicate that such a Home Learning Center approach to early stimulation can lead to (1) improved cognitive performance of the children as a function of time in the program and (2) positive attitudes and behaviors of mothers toward their children. The relationships between maternal attitude and behavior to child performance found at ages two and three provide support for the development of parent-oriented service programs. (Author/MK) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH