And still, the need remains.“[ T ] he research community plays an important role in leading and synthesizing the most relevant and informative research on child development across multiple social, cultural, and linguistic contexts; educator quality; effective teaching; and so forth”( NAEYC 2020, 29). Translating such research to practice is critical to advancing the profession and supporting high-quality early childhood education. Young Children is again answering that call.
Reintroducing Research in Review: The Vision and Guidelines
In 2022, NAEYC conducted a market research survey and asked members which topics they would most like to see NAEYC focus on in publications.“ Current research” was one of the most selected responses along with“ guidance addressing challenging behaviors,”“ developmentally appropriate practice,” and“ curriculum and teaching strategies.” In addition, NAEYC’ s ongoing early childhood education workforce surveys routinely elevate the voices of educators. What we continue to hear is that educators are keenly interested in developing as professionals, but they are stressed and often burned out due to the incredibly challenging and often under-supported work that they do( NAEYC Applied Research and Policy and Professional Advancement Teams 2025). Providing digestible, practical guidance based on cutting-edge research is one way that NAEYC aims to serve members, supporting professional growth in a time-efficient way.
To continue to strengthen connections between research and practice and to meet the needs of the field, Research in Review is returning to the pages of Young Children. It will carry on a legacy unique to NAEYC and still sought in the field: The column will synthesize what is known in the research literature and provide recommendations that educators can put into action. By engaging with the column, educators will not only gain the“ how” but also the“ why” that they can share with others. Like its predecessors, the column will contribute an important piece to Young Children’ s broader aim to unite research with real-world implementation.
In its new iteration, Research in Review will be a shared endeavor among the NAEYC Periodicals and Applied Research teams, tapping into the deep expertise and initiatives within NAEYC. It will be peer reviewed by Young Children’ s consulting editors, who represent professionals from across the early childhood education and associated fields.
A Call for Submissions
In addition to meeting the criteria for all Young Children manuscripts, we seek Research in Review submissions that
› Identify a central question or issue in early childhood education and / or child development. Why is this question or issue current and significant to practitioners?
› Synthesize the relevant research. Drawing from a range of methodologies, what is the current understanding of research in this area? How does that reflect or connect to NAEYC foundational documents?
› Present clear, practical implications for early childhood educators and leaders. Based on the research, what should early childhood educators and / or leaders do? What are the broader principles or guidelines to take away? What supports or changes are needed for implementation to occur?
As researchers ourselves, we have been driven to ask questions and seek answers in systematic ways. We also have witnessed what Dr. Gardner described decades ago: Unless it is grounded in real life and presented in timely, usable ways, great research will stay in the research community( McFarland 1961). We are thrilled to build on Young Children’ s legacy, and we look forward to shepherding the
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