Acknowledgment

This guide to early child development was an idea that evolved from teaching pediatric content at the University of South Dakota and practicing as an occupational therapist in pediatrics. Although it was originally planned as a published text, the number of photographs I hoped to include to illustrate the textual descriptions was cost-prohibitive. The USD Center for Teaching and Learning Open Textbook Fellowship program provided the opportunity for me to create a resource using Google Sites which is not restricted by page or photograph number and is accessible to students, faculty, and practitioners without cost.  

I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the children featured in over 400 photographs in this text and their parents – you made this resource possible! I am  blessed to call many of you family, friends, and colleagues. Heartfelt thanks to my grandchildren, Chase, Maddie, Emery, and Leighton and their parents, Joel, Kristene, Chris, and Autumn, who allowed me to photograph during multiple visits - I cherish those memories!

I am also indebted to the USD Occupational Therapy graduate students and Center for Teaching and Learning Tech Fellows who assisted with photography and content development. I especially wish to thank Rebecca Benson who worked diligently to move content from Word to Google Sites, and Lora Smith, Komal Shah, and Jessyca Conaway who assisted with photography. I am also grateful to  Peter Brulle, Sarah Christopherson, Dan Gregg, Brittny Grueneich,  Brook Hindman, and Jenna Swanson who assisted with reference development. Additionally, many of the narrated videos, which accompany this text and are available to USD students, were created by USD occupational therapy students.  

To my colleagues at USD - OT faculty and staff, Ranelle, Shana, Jessica, Whitney, Moses, Allison, Mackenzie, Rita, Marcia, and Heather, and PT faculty in pediatrics, Patti and Lana - without your encouragement, friendship, and support this resource would not exist! Special thanks to Ranelle for providing continued departmental support to complete the project during my initial retirement. To Eric Mosterd and the Center for Teaching and Learning faculty and staff, thank you for developing and providing instruction and guidance to faculty in creating open resources for students. 

To Barb Hooper who persuaded me to take a sabbatical to bring my idea to fruition, thank you for the inspiration! To the owners and staff of Coffea coffee house in Sioux Falls, SD who provided me with the sustenance and environment to work long enjoyable hours during my sabbatical. 

Finally, I am especially grateful for the enthusiastic support of my husband, Bob, and daughter, Kate, as I pursued this project! And to each of my children and grandchildren, you bring me so much joy!