Examined cognitive competencies and motivation in economically advantaged and disadvantaged preschoolers and kindergartners over a two-year period. Found that disadvantaged children had poorer cognitive scores than advantaged children. Cognitive gains were equal after one or two years in school, with socioeconomic status (SES) differences…

In this commentary on a previous article that revealed modest and inconsistent results of the Parents as Teachers program, program evaluation work is urged to move beyond simply measuring intervention outcomes to examining the complex interactions between family and child characteristics, intervention goals addressed, processes employed by…

In this commentary on a previous article that revealed modest and inconsistent results of the Parents as Teachers program, issues are highlighted that those involved in real-world evaluation need to consider. Study attrition, defining meaningful primary outcomes, and need to use a participatory approach to develop outcome-based interventions are…

Argues that music activities in early childhood education foster a variety of developmental skills. Analyzes Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, contending that music intelligence is a separate intelligence. Provides ways to identify and promote musical intelligence. Suggests methods for encouraging musical development. Using songs…

A father relates his family's efforts to provide early stimulation to a son diagnosed with cerebral palsy and visual impairments. As the boy developed, he listened to audiotape recordings of music and nursery rhymes, explored household objects, watched television, played computer games, and was eventually enrolled in a mainstreamed kindergarten.…

Argues that the best alternative to assigning children to grades on the basis of birth date alone is to implement a child-centered and process-oriented curriculum for younger children and push back the academic curriculum to the upper grades. Suggests this allows children to develop at their own pace. (RS)

A follow-up study of 268 adolescents was conducted to determine predictors of disabilities. Parental traits were more accurate predictors of adolescent status than the child's own behavior from birth to 3 years, whereas child-centered skills assessed at 4 and 7 years of age were better predictors than familial factors. (Author/JDD)

Research with 32 4-, 6-, 8-, and 10-year-old British children demonstrated that children at different reading levels relied on different types of cues in recognizing words. Older children used grapheme-phoneme correspondence rules in recognizing words and were much more flexible than were beginning readers in their response patterns. (SLD)

Describes public day care in Scandinavian countries. Argues that a "second welfare state" has emerged to carry out some family functions. Discusses repercussions for children and families, as well as problems of equity, quality, and bureaucratization in the system. Suggests that the United States can benefit from Scandinavian experience.…

Researchers and policymakers have begun to recognize the extent and severity of family violence, particularly its effects on children. But there is much disagreement about the definition of violence, its development, the consequences for victims, and the most effective avenues for intervention. Advances recommendations for further research.…

Summarizes how cultural research can inform mainstream psychology, focusing on the role of specific cultural practices in organizing human endeavors. Describes Vygotsky's theoretical approach. The cultural perspective can be useful in advancing research on American children with different cultural backgrounds. (Author/BJV)

Discusses the development of the Indonesian Chart of Developmental Milestones, designed for use with existing nutrition and mother-child welfare programs to monitor children's development. A reliability and validity study using 108 Indonesian children from birth to 36 months of age established a tester-observer reliability of 0.97 and a…

This article addresses the parent's role in the life of the infant and young child with motor impairments, in the context of the conductive education approach. Critically important are recognizing and responding to the infant's efforts at communication, enlivening the child's zone of proximal development through games and music, and seeing the…

Data from a longitudinal study of 2,000 children concerning paternal involvement, the father-child relationship, and effects on gender role expectations of sons and daughters suggest that the development of egalitarian views about work and parenthood depend less on paternal involvement than on the nature of that involvement. (SLD)

Examines the demography and the social and health status of Latino children, focusing on the implications for the formulation of public policy and the implementation of programs. Significant health issues by developmental stages are discussed, from infancy through adolescence, as well as issues surrounding access to medical care and health…