Child care centers representing four auspices (non profit, local for profit, national chain for profit, and church sponsored) were examined for associations between quality and social outcomes. Non profits had higher social outcomes, teacher child interaction produced no difference, and higher work-family interference was associated with lower…

The role that talk plays in socialization, social development, and possibly cognitive development is described. Research on talk is categorized as follows: studies that consider talk as a tool for investigation; studies that focus on development of grammar or language acquisition; and studies that fall between those extremes. (LB)

Describes an experiment undertaken to identify the home experiences of 1- to 3-year-old children which result in competence at the age of 6. (BRT)

A portion of the Child Care Cost, Quality, and Outcomes study finds that quality of center-based care was positively related to preschool children's concurrent cognitive and socioemotional development. More advantaged children are not necessarily buffered from effects of poor quality care. In addition, stronger positive effects of child care…

Examined the role of pretend play interactions in stimulating social and emotional competence by comparing the quality of pretend and nonpretend social play. Found that pretend play involved more complex, mutually responsive, and emotionally invested social interaction than nonpretend play. Expression of psychosocial issues within pretense was…

Reviews two books that address fundamental issues of good and evil; a collection that addresses fundamental questions about child care; two books on recent developments on the study of the self; a two-volume collection on children's development within social contexts; and a comparative study of theories of child development. (AA)