Coded the feeling state content of three- and four-year olds' narratives to adults. Found that children talk a great deal about affiliation, that sex differences emerge only in the context of interactive talk between adults and children, and that older children talk more about emotions than younger ones, except when "scaffolding" is…

Behavioral observations and sociometric ratings were assessed in separate 3- and 4-year-olds child-care classes across a 2-year period. In general, correspondence between behavioral observations and sociometric ratings increased with age, and social structure showed greater cohesion in the 4-year-olds class. Gender was an organizing principle in…

Examined the incidence of delayed kindergarten entry in a suburban school district over a 12-year period. Results indicated that there had been a significant increase in the number of children who had delayed school entry. Significantly more males than females delayed kindergarten entry, and the majority of children delaying school entry had…

Evaluated social competence and problem behaviors of 200 Japanese preschoolers. Found anxiety-withdrawal, anger- aggression, and social competence factors as well as age and gender differences in emotional and behavioral problems and social competence. Found consistency with previous findings from U.S. and Canadian samples. (DLH)

Evaluated social competence and problem behaviors of 370 Chinese preschoolers. Found anxiety-withdrawal, anger-aggression, and social competence factors related to age and gender differences. Found high reliability and validity for the Social Competence and Behavior Evaluation (SCBE-30) scale in this Chinese sample. (DLH)

Evaluated social competence and problem behaviors among 217 Russian preschoolers. Found anxiety-withdrawal, anger-aggression, and social competence factors similar to those found in American, Canadian, French, and Spanish children. Found a mix of universal and culturally specific features that may be connected to gender stereotypes prevailing in…

Validated the Social Competence and Behavior Evaluation Inventory (SCBE-30) in eight countries. Found in all samples structural equivalence, pattern of gender differences generalized across cultural contexts, and age differences. Established data set to investigate universal and cultural differences in the development of preschool children's…