This article reports a longitudinal study of factors associated with reading ability in a large sample of children aged seven and then at age nine. It was found that the correlation between reading at age seven and reading at age nine was 0.87. The implications of the results are discussed. (Author/CT)

Research on cognitive development of low-birthweight infants is reviewed. The study of high-risk populatons should include measures of psychological development. Detailed assessment of the children's daily life and behavior patterns can provide clues for causal linkages to account for the association between social economic status and cognitive…

Investigates the development of communicative competence during preschool age by analyzing certain types of communicative acts and sequences of communicative acts in adult-child and child-child communication. Assumes there are certain phases in which a child is especially prepared for the acquisition of certain types of communicative acts. (SED)

Examines the goals, formats, and effectiveness of current educational programming and provides insight into some important questions, such as: What are the alternative instructional messages of television programming? How are they best communicated? (Author/IRT)

This study was undertaken to determine the relative contribution of age, sex, and three stimulus features (board shape, block arrangement, and block shape) to perceptual accuracy on 39 board/block adaptations of Piaget's three-mountain task. (Author/SB)

Arguing that evolution designed us to both teach and learn, this book explains how, and how much, babies and young children know and learn, and how much parents naturally teach them. The chapters are: (1) "Ancient Questions and a Young Science," including the concept of brain as computer, and the developmental science of Piaget and…

A discussion of the strong emphasis on cognitive development in preschool education of disadvantaged children which may be inappropriate to the broader learning process. Suggests that a different approach may be needed to foster maturation in youngsters deprived physically and emotionally. (ST)

Examines the effect of different training methods on perceptual learning of impulsive children. A matching to sample method (M), and a differentiation method (D) were used. Data indicated that Ss receiving D training learned to process features distinguishing stimuli; whereas, Ss receiving M training showed no preference for a particular mode of…

A theoretical framework stemming from the evolutionary psychology of Herbert Spencer, along with two experiments with young children as subjects, are presented. (Authors)

In a Parent Child Center, disadvantaged mothers learn to stimulate cognitive growth in their children and, through other activities, gain in self-esteem. (DM)

Author reviews gains made in the last decade in knowledge of the nature of child development and learning, and cautions against a lessening of commitment. (MB)