The case study reports the findings of systematic play training with a 7 year old autistic male who had never exhibited play behavior. The research procedure involved three phases: imitation training, training manipulative play, and motivation training. Training during the three phases was conducted three times per week for 7 1/2 months in a quiet…

Two improvement strategies designed to modify children's impulsive tempos were developed and transformed into task exercises. Results indicated that enriching redundancy and enlarging variations in cognitive processes enable the impulsive child to assimilate information and therefore deal more effectively with reality. (Author/PC)

Examined the relationship of relaxation training to hyperactivity in 10 boys ages 6-12. On all nine dependent variables, the subjects exhibited no change after neutral treatment and significant change after relaxation training. Data collected during the relaxation process demonstrated reduced muscle tension for all subjects. (Author)

Two experiments with one 10-year-old and four 9-year-old dyslexic boys were conducted that dealt with phonics skills and the relationship of phonics behaviors to oral reading. (Author/MC)

Studied frequency of occurrence of four different types of physical contact (touching, holding hands, sitting-on-lap, and hugging) in school-based helping interactions between nonprofessional child aides and young referred children. Frequency of contact behaviors did not relate either to adjustment status at referral or to intervention outcomes.…

Compared various cognitive treatment approaches for ameliorating the difficulties of hyperactive children on tasks requiring sustained vigilance and accuracy. Differential training techniques comparing training in attention to inhibitory control indicated that a combination of attentional and inhibitory control strategies was most efficacious in…

This study effectively eliminated face-slapping behavior in a 10-year-old boy with severe developmental disability and autistic characteristics. The subject wore wrist weights for up to 30 minutes each day. Face slapping did not occur during a follow-up check conducted five months after study completion. (Author/DB)

The effectiveness of written instructions was compared with the effectiveness of direct instructions for training in the application of four behavior change processes with 12 undergraduates. Both instructional techniques were effective. Direct instruction was more consistently effective immediately, with both techniques producing similar effects…

This study evaluated use of a parent coach in teaching positive parenting skills to four parents with noncompliant children. The parents successfully learned and used the skills-based teaching techniques, the reward system, and the self-monitoring strategies. Child compliance with parental instruction improved. (Contains references.) (DB)

Training in Interpersonal Cognitive Problem Solving (ICPS) can be a means of promoting social competence and adjustment. Empirical findings suggest that the process of being able to consider multiple options for solutions of interpersonal problems is important for healthy adaptive functioning, even in children as young as 4 years of age. If one…