Brain Gym[R] (BG; BGI, 2008) is a popular commercial program sold by Brain Gym[R] International (BGI). Making extravagant claims for improved intellectual and physical development, it is used in more than 80 countries. While BGI's claims are persuasive, to date there is little empirical evidence validating the approach. We examine some theoretical…

This study of cognitive and perceptual development compared low SES minority urban children participating in special programs with middle SES minority urban children and with the national norms on cognitive and perceptual measures. Subjects were 169 4- and 5-year-old minority urban children attending preschools in a large city. Eighteen middle…

This report presents results from an experimental comparison of four kinds of Head Start programs (Montessori, Traditional, Bereiter-Engelmann, and Darcee) and a 3-year follow-up through second grade. The four programs are described, and the immediate and stable effects of each program on children's cognitive, motivational and perceptual…

A battery of cognitive, personal, and demographic tests were given to 216 children from Title I (of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act) schools, with and without previous school experience, and to 31 children from non-Title I schools. The effects of prekindergarten experience upon subsequent school experience were evaluated. The Title-I…

This manual evaluates and describes an educational day care model after 1 year of development. The model was designed for 3- and 5-year-old disadvantaged youngsters who exhibit low scores on intelligence, linguistic, and perceptual tests. Model objectives were based on the following criteria: (1) effectiveness of the curriculum with children, (2)…

The Pre-Kindergarten Component, part of the Language Development Component funded under Title I of the Elementary Secondary Education Act of 1965, served 677 four-year-olds in 21 Title I schools. The design of the component was based on the assumption that many pre-school disadvantaged pupils have underdeveloped potential in many areas necessary…

This research investigates the learning impact of Montessori prekindergarten training as compared to traditional approaches with economically deprived Puerto Rican and Negro children. The three-part, 156-page monograph includes a 22-page introduction to Parts I and II, and a 37-page appendix to Part I. Parts I and II assess training effects of the…

The project on which this document reports intends to (1) implement a three-year and a four-year sequential curriculum based upon developmental concepts, (2) change the traditional roles of the teacher and the student, (3) accommodate individual differences in children's levels and learning rates, (4) involve parents in the education and cognitive…

The program activities, curriculum, and evaluation of the Pennsylvania Research in Infant Development and Education (PRIDE) Project are described in this report. The project is an educational effort to accelerate the development of children, 12-52 months of age, by providing developmentally enriching experiences in a controlled environment which…

The purpose of the study was to describe ways in which disadvantaged children differ from their more advantaged peers in the areas of cognitive and affective developmental patterns, and to use this description to restructure curricular experiences for disadvantaged children. Five groups of approximately 30 preschool children each were tested three…

This report presents a description and evaluation of the Cognitively Oriented Urban Prekindergarten Program in West Chester, Pennsylvania, a preschool program for children from low income families and/or one-parent families. The program was designed to form a link between the Early Learning Program of the PRIDE Project and public kindergarten.…

This report surveys writings by National Institute of Mental Health grant recipients who have investigated this first five years of life. The authors attempted to identify and correlate ideas, themes, perspectives and issues which can be useful in the formulation and evaluation of social policies related to infant and child development. Major…