Parents, teachers, and administrators are still asking the question that a young mother asked me over 20 years ago. "I have to go back to work," she said as she interviewed me over the telephone, ..".and I don't even know what questions I should be asking you " That young mother broke down in tears as the full importance of her responsibility hit home. For those of us in the field, the impact may not be as personal, but the responsibility is every bit as great. Stepping in Wet Cement is a guidebook. It tells parents and practitioners what is important for young children, why those things are important, and what parents can do at home to maximize their child's learning potential.