This article emphasizes the importance of introducing/providing character education during the early years of child development in order to raise morally responsive citizens. Noting the rampant acts of violence and malicious crime at a time marked with deep global turmoil in many societies, the authors argue for an exhaustive study of the recently…

This article provides an interview transcript between David Kahn and Mario Montessori (1898-1982), son of Dr. Maria Montessori. Mario Montessori dedicated his life to the preservation, dissemination and application of Montessori's works. Herein Kahn asks Montessori about his time living in the hills of Kodaikanal, India. Montessori touches upon…

This study investigated whether the types and amount of playful activity and thought exhibited from early childhood to adulthood are related to aspects of moral development, such as empathy, behavior, and reasoning. It explored whether the assertions of theorists such as Piaget, Vygotsky, and Erikson regarding the facilitative effect of games with…

Views school-age children living in five distinct worlds, each with their own operational modes. Discusses the negative repercussions of failing to recognize the child's worlds. Reviews Lawrence Kohlberg's, Eliot Turiel's, and Carol Gilligan's positions concerning moral education. Recommends a broad definition of morality, including justice and…

The problems examined in this study were (1) age differences in grasp of psychological causality during middle childhood, (2) the exploration of possible mediating abilities of a physical-logical nature accounting for such age differences and (3) relations between cognition of psychological causality and intentionality in moral judgment.…

A developmental psychologist discusses the meaning of "moral development" and suggests ways to implement classroom activities fostering the moral growth of pupils. (MB)

This issue of "Children in Contemporary Society" focuses on the theme of moral education for young children and addresses the following topics: the historical background of interest in and conceptualization of moral education; aspects of child development that affect the young child's judgment and conduct on moral issues; the…

Does not support Piaget's interpretations that mature moral judgment, dependent upon a decentered thought structure, develops around the ages of eight and nine. (RL)

Children and teachers in 750 kindness clubs (organized by the World Society for the Protection of Animals, WSPA) in 32 African countries are actively involved in coordinating rural animal clinics and participate in clinic activities including the treatment of these animals. This article discusses the benefits of child-animal relationships.…

The family and the school are among the crucial sociocultural institutions that can be harnessed to the cause of world peace. What is needed is commitment to modes of childhood conditioning that focus on themes productive of resolving international conflicts at the bargaining table. (Author/SDH)

The guidance of the youngster towards appropriate behavioral models is one of the greatest challenges and responsibilities of teachers and parents; children of school age need models yet are unable to discriminate fully among the potential models vying for attention. (CJ)

Researchers analyzed the responses of second-, fourth-, and sixth-grade students who read three fables, and traced the relationship between grade level and stage of moral development. The children reflected different stages of moral development. The use of fables to elicit responses to moral questions is discussed. (PP)

A study was conducted to determine if the responses of elementary school children to questions about the moral dilemmas in fables would reflect developmental trends in moral judgment, along the lines suggested by Jean Piaget. Sixty second, fourth, and sixth grade children listened to three tape-recorded fables and responded orally to questions…

Discusses a study to determine problems relating to the moral education of 1,040 first grade students in the Soviet Union. Findings indicated that family influence had the greatest educational impact on children's moral development. (Author/DB)

Describes a study of third and fifth grade students that investigated moral dilemmas involving computer and Internet use. Significant differences were found between children's moral reasoning in everyday situations compared to those involving computer and Internet use, but gender differences were not consistently detected. (Author/LRW)