This study used observations of quality of 5-year olds' lives in Danish, Finnish, and Swedish day-care centers to examine impact of adults on development of togetherness. Findings suggest that togetherness has to do with positive emotional relations. Article hypothesizes that togetherness may contribute to building of a real community of learners…

Outlines what developmentalists can do with genes associated with behavioral dimensions and disorders once they are found. Suggests that genes can be used to answer questions about developmental continuities, psychopathological patterns such as heterogeneity and comoribidty, and environmental-risk mechanisms informed by studies of gene/environment…

Discussion of the role of play in development of young children with disabilities considers the different forms of play as the child develops, the social nature of play, contexts and play materials, and the value of including play goals and strategies in the individualized family service plan or individual education program developed cooperatively…

Explored relationships between second graders' multidimensional self-concepts (SC) and their teachers' beliefs about developmentally appropriate practices (DAP). Survey data indicated that neither beliefs about traditional practices nor about developmental practices predicted any dimension of SC for girls. Beliefs about traditional practices…

Evaluates a teaching program called TRAC (Talk, Reasoning, and Computers) that is used for scaffolding children's effective use of language as a tool for reasoning and collaborative activity. Finds that using the TRAC program can increase the amount of exploratory talk used by children working together in the classroom. (CMK)

Explores a study that quantifies preschool children's music learning preferences in teacher-intitiated environments by observing the children on video to determine their flow experiences where the challenge level and skill level are both high. Stresses that using flow to measure music experiences provides a means for teachers to evaluate student…

Examines risk and protective factors to identify processes in rural, single-parent families that are linked with positive child outcomes. Protective domains promoted greater child self-regulation; parenting protective factors promoted greater self-regulation. Maternal risk had the greatest negative effect on child self-worth. Results also reveal…

Examines the basis for decision-making about quality in early childhood programs. Challenges the view of universalist assumptions and argues that quality is relative, but not arbitrary. Maintains that quality perspectives depend on a framework of knowledge, beliefs, and values about childhood, child development, and early childhood programs that…

A study assessed the effect of family-centered early intervention services on 47 children and their families during a 12-month period. During family-centered intervention, children's developmental gains were equivalent to their rate of development prior to intervention. The intervention also did not reduce parental stress or enhance family…

Mothers ranging in age from 14 to 18 years enrolled in a high school program for teenage mothers evaluated a parenting manual. Overall comments about the manual were favorable. However, responses indicated that the manual may not be as relevant for adolescents expecting their first child. Suggestions were given and the manual was updated.…

Reviews recent long-term outcome studies concerning the psycho-educational functioning of children who were born with very low birth weight (2.20 to 3.31 pounds). Findings indicate that these children develop without problems in some, but not all, areas. The areas most consistently affected were neuro-motor and mathematics. (Author/CR)

Three analytic approaches were used in a framework of classical test theory to examine the construct validity of a mathematics assessment of 16 constructed response items. Results from 280 elementary school students across four age groups suggest a developmental structure of tasks and subdomains that was generally consistent with the test's…

Compares the family-centeredness of East and West Berliners with primary school-aged children shortly after the breakdown of East Germany by examining parental attitudes regarding friendship among children. Observes that while parents in East Berlin exerted greater control than those in West Berlin, children's integration into their extrafamilial…

Questions which familial socialization conditions are related systematically to individual student educational careers and motivations to learn. Assumes that students' motivations and aspirations are influenced by their parents' school-related practices. Concludes that autonomy-promoting, supportive pedagogical practices promote motivation to…

Examines three transcripts of preschool children's informal mathematical discourse during play to highlight the role of informal learning in young children's education. Considers the children's ability to adopt instructor, mediator and evaluator communication roles, to gain access to formal mathematics knowledge, and to use these to meet…