There is ample evidence that children born to poorer families do not succeed at the same rate as children born to the middle class. On average, low-income children lag behind on almost every cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and health measure. These gaps start early--some of the newest research suggests that cognitive gaps are detectable in…

The two studies reported here explore recent findings indicating that few relationships exist between environmental stimulation and cognitive development during the first 6 months of life. In the first study, three separate home visits (two 90 minutes and one 30 minutes long) were used to assess the physical and social environments of 100…

Emphasizes that from a practical point of view, it is important that studies with malnourished children emphasize the interactions between nutrition and environment rather than attempt complex, costly experiments which hopefully will assess the contribution of each of the components alone. (Author/JM)

This investigation evaluated a group of 20 8-month to 2-year-old culturally disadvantaged children who were given a 1-year structured educational program as a means of environmental intervention. The program involved language training, conceptual training, and sensory-motor training. The study is the first phase of a longitudinal study to…

This report explores the possibility of constructing a conceptual framework to account for variations in learning styles observed among preschool disadvantaged children. It begins with a review of the literature on preschool intervention programs relating to ways disadvantaged children approach new experiences; gather, organize, and process…

This study examined the effectiveness of a training program designed to help disadvantaged teenage mothers promote their infants' early cognitive development. Subjects were 127 mothers whose babies were less than 6 months old at the start of the program; most were white women near the poverty level, and many were unmarried. The control group…

Activities of the Institute for Development of Human Resources provide the information contained in this document. This first large-scale project of the institute was in parent education of disadvantaged mothers in the north central Florida area. The purpose of the project was to investigate a way in which early intervention into the lives of…

This paper, part of a long term study, reports the effect of a modified Montessori preschool experience on cognitive development, school-related behaviors, and social interactions and perceptions of disadvantaged children. Each of thirty-five disadvantaged Negro children (31 in nursery classes and 4 in elementary classes) was pair-matched with a…

This textbook for preschool teachers is geared to the needs of the young and relatively inexperienced teacher. The book combines developmental and educational theory with practical application. Chapters cover: (1) early education as a career; (2) schools and systems of early education; (3) school and family: partners or competitors?; (4) social…

This review of child development research (primarily British and American) is organized around three major themes: the parental role and women's liberation; the role of educators in enhancing or hindering the life chances of pupils; and the problems of disadvantagement and the feasibility of intervention to prevent, minimize or eliminate its long…

A review of current federal programs related to child development is presented in the form of description and analysis of research in fiscal year 1971. Research and developmental plans for fiscal year 1973 are also described with recommendations for the future. Eleven federal early childhood research agencies supported 700 projects in fiscal 1971…

The Interagency Panel on Early Childhood Research and Development, convened in the spring of 1970 by the Office of Child Development, reports on its activities among 11 federal agencies over an 18 month period. It conducted a survey of federally funded research in early child learning and development, developed a data bank, and gathered…