Vygotsky (1978) describes play as having three main components, one being the ability for a child to create an imaginary situation, the second taking on and acting out roles, and the third, following a set of rules that were determined by the roles children took on during play during social or group settings. Hence, supporting much needed social…

This article introduces an accessible approach to implementing unmoderated remote research in developmental science -- research in which children and families participate in studies remotely and independently, without directly interacting with researchers. Unmoderated remote research has the potential to strengthen developmental science by: (1)…

In this article, the authors examine the mathematical thinking and experiences that are unique to infants, toddlers, and 2-year-olds. They identify the four precursor mathematical concepts of attribute, comparison, pattern, and change and explore them in terms of why it is so important to attend to them, what makes them inherently mathematical and…

Schools seem firmly rooted in the emphasis on computational mastery, and seldom seem to have time to develop other areas of mathematical thinking, such as real-world problem solving and the application of mathematical concepts. All too often, children seem to do well in math in the early grades because they easily memorize the facts and the…

Many parents find it hard to make decisions about screen time for their kids because advice comes from different directions and often conflicts. In the field of child development, there are decades of theory and research that can be very helpful as a guide for screen and digital device use with young kids. These ideas can be a resource for parents…

The author of this article implores parents to take the word "I" off the table. Instead of thinking "What can I do for my children?" consider, "What can they do for themselves?" How can one invoke children's independence and initiative? Start by inspiring them to investigate, imagine, and use their intellect.…

"Research Connections" conducted a comprehensive search of its collection for resources focused on early mathematics. This Key Topic Resource List includes an overview of the early mathematics literature, as well as a listing of selected resources on the topic. Search results are grouped into five broad areas: (1) Programs and…

Much of the research on orphan and vulnerable children in sub-Saharan Africa has focused on their risks and vulnerabilities. This article describes the "funds of knowledge" (Moll and Greenberg, 1990) and means of acquiring new knowledge of children living in child-headed households in Uganda's Rakai District. Using ethnographic methods,…

School-ready children are children who are prepared to learn successfully in school. These children show growth over time in their physical, social and emotional, language, and cognitive development. They also show increasing interests in new experiences and in mastering new skills. Getting "school-ready" starts long before the weeks or…

News reports calling attention to the steady increase in the number of overweight adults have become an accepted part of our media landscape. Worse still, warnings continue that more and more young children, like the adults who care for them, are carrying too much weight. Unfortunately, this bad news about our growing obesity problem isn't just…

Argues that the intelligence, creative functions, and abilities of all children can be increased. The importance of parents as teachers is emphasized. Activities of the Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential in developing methods for enhancing neurological functioning and teaching parents to apply the new methods are described.…

This Yugoslavian study aimed to describe the ways in which mothers are (or are not) using the opportunity, created by interacting with their children on tasks which are in the child's Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD), to foster the child's metacognitive development. The underlying assumption of this study on metacognition is derived from the…

The Parents as First Teachers project successfully teaches Missouri parents to enhance their children's cognitive development. The project recruited 300 first-time parents in its first year, then provided them with educational support and guidance during their children's first three years, while monitoring the children's progress. (PGD)

One of the programs included in "Effective Reading Programs...," this program is based on the principle of early identification of students' strengths and weaknesses and the development of individualized methods to correct the weaknesses and emphasize the strengths. The program, begun in 1972, serves 749 kindergarten and first-grade…

The effectiveness of the Mother-as-Teacher home intervention program is examined. The goal of this program is to enhance lower socioeconomic status mothers' teaching style. The extent to which enhanced maternal strategies affect the cognitive performance is assessed. (JMF)