Research:
Applied research related to the benefits of early brain development training to parents and child care providers; training and education needs of child care providers in Georgia; strengths and needs of grandparents caring for grandchildren.

Outreach:
Areas of outreach and Extension work include child care provider education, the Teaching Basic Health and Safety in the Early Childhood Classroom curriculum, the Back on Track Parenting Project, creativity in early childhood, child guidance, early childhood development, parenting education, children and families at risk.

Teaching:
I teach CHFD 2950: Introduction to Child Development during Maymester, and include a service-learning component to the class. I also teach CHFD 5130: Creative Activities for Young Children. My teaching interests include developing interactive online resources and courses to educate adults in formal and informal settings.

Interests:
One of the keys to building successful adults is to provide positive experiences in early childhood. Unfortunately, many parents and child care providers do not have adequate information to provide the best possible environment for infants and young children. Providing solid, research-based information on early childhood development is the primary focus of my Extension programming. Helping young children develop safe, healthy habits is a primary focus of my outreach work. Parenting education, especially related to the new research on early brain development, is also a major emphasis. I am providing leadership and support for Back on Track, a parenting project to help parents at risk of abuse and neglect learn parenting and family management skills. I am also interested in developing innovative program strategies to meet the needs of grandparents raising or providing substantial care for grandchildren, including informal child care providers who receive government child care subsidies.

Education:

Selected Publications/Presentations:

Bales, D., Wallinga, C., & Coleman, M. (in press). Health and safety in the early childhood classroom: Guidelines for curriculum development. Childhood Education. Wallinga, C., Bales, D., & Coleman, M. (in press). Teaching young children about health and safety: Involving community workers in the early childhood classroom. Dimensions of Early Childhood. Bales, D. W. (2005). Sharing the message about early brain development: Georgia�s Better Brains for Babies collaboration. Forum for Family and Consumer Issues, 10. http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/fcs/pub/10_2/pa3.html. Bales, D. (2003). Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Helping Grandchildren Stay in Contact with Parents. (Extension publication CHFD-E 59-2). Athens: The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service. Bales, D. (2003). Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Helping Your Grandchild Deal with the Death of a Parent. (Extension publication CHFD-E 59-4). Athens: The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service. Bales, D. (1998). Building Baby's Brain: The Basics.(Extension publication FACS 01-1). Athens: The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service. Bales, D. (1998). Building Baby's Brain: The Role of Music. (Extension publication FACS 01-7). Athens: The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service.