This is the last in a series of articles on the four elements of the Circle of Courage. Traditional Native American child development practices have created environments of belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity. Discusses the theme of generosity from a Native American perspective. (Author/GCP)

The study of children?s peer relationships has been well represented within the pages of Merrill-Palmer Quarterly. Particularly over the last decade, the pace of publishing studies on peer relationships has increased. Despite this upswing in interest in peer relationships, significant gaps remain. In this article, we focus on a particularly…

Reviews research on children's ability to remember events in relation to that of adults. Concludes that age interacts with other factors, including language and the relative development of knowledge structures, to determine suggestibility. Suggests that children's memories may at times be less easily influenced than adults' memories. (KH)

Understanding how children think about the needs of animals may aid bridging from how they care about individual animals to caring about the environment more generally. This study explored changes with age in children's conceptions of animals' needs, including how such conceptions may extend beyond the individual animal to larger systems and…

Developed a multivariate, causal model of the influences of childbearing and early child rearing, to investigate the impact of teenage mothers upon their children. Data analysis indicated socioeconomic status was the strongest influence upon each variable. Found the influence of maternal age in the opposite direction to socioeconomic status.…

Examines demographics, problems (dropouts, pregnancy and births, poverty, single-parent families, other problems), and differences of Hispanic American children. Explores factors for school counselors to consider when planning individual, group, and family therapy. Suggests strategies for becoming an effective counselor of Hispanic American…

Examines how categories of race have been historically constructed and applied to science, reviewing research comparing black and white infant motor development from 1931-92; investigating how scientific studies of black motor precocity were influenced by social views on race and racial differences characteristic of the times; and suggesting that…

Discusses differences between girls and boys, focusing on pitfalls and perils specific to each gender, offering research on differences in their development and educational experiences, explaining how the different sexes self-blame, and noting good news for girls related to equal educational opportunities. The paper concludes that the problems of…

Although significant research on child development has been undertaken in the Third World, Euro-American paradigmatic limitations have prevented policymakers from applying the knowledge gained to child development programs there. Several suggestions are made for altering the situation. (PS)

Traces the process of gender identity through the period of development and links it to social competence. Describes three stages--gender awareness, gender orientation, and gender identity--and outlines their characteristics. Discusses implications of this view, especially in relation to Bem's concept of androgyny. (Author/KH)

Argues that field research can provide evidence about the long-term socialization and developmental effects of media violence on viewer's behavior. Summarizes findings from a number of quasi-experimental studies about the effects of naturally occurring media violence. Concludes that these findings are often consistent with the hypothesis that…

This document was prepared to help parents, educators, and concerned citizens better understand how children and adolescents actually learn. True learning involves: (1) developing a passion for learning; (2) acquiring communication skills; (3) constructing new knowledge; (4) taking part in concrete activities; and (5) developing problem solving…

Proposes developmental approach to smoking education and prevention for children and adolescents. Reviews literature concerning most appropriate agent, content, and presentation of antismoking education for different ages, concluding that best agents for young children are parents and best agents for pre/early adolescents are peers. For…

The medieval school came into existence after the fifth century to satisfy ecclesiastical demands for a minimum amount of literacy and scientific knowledge whereby young priests could learn to carry out priestly functions in the Church. During the course of the Middle Ages, the medieval school gradually changed its structure and function until the…

As the Suzuki method of music instruction has spread from Japan to other countries, its methods have been modified to adapt to the culture of those countries. In this paper the Japanese cultural background, and the principles and methods developed in Japan are discussed and compared with the adaptations made in the United States. The Suzuki method…