Reviews studies examining children's nurturing behaviors and suggests ways to encourage those behaviors in early childhood settings. Discusses age, gender, and cultural differences in the nurturing behavior of young children. Recommends that teachers expose children to positive role models and suggests several children's books with characters that…

Twenty-two 3-year-olds, 36 4-year-olds, and eight 5-year-olds were given the option of using two computers with selected, sequenced software games as one of their free-choice or work time activities. During the last half of the 33-week long study, children were also introduced to a floor turtle robot, a standing robot, and to Logo activities.…

A review of research on children's symbolic play discusses ways for teachers to (1) defend the inclusion of play in the curriculum; (2) understand and respect differences in the ways children play; and (3) facilitate play in the classroom. Discusses the complexity of play and the controversy about play as part of the curriculum. (GLR)

Child caregivers should not answer children's questions in ways that enable children to create stereotypical categories. Because children are aware of differences among the peers and the adults they encounter, children's questions must be answered accurately and in a developmentally appropriate way. When questions about individual difference…

Describes two studies that examined the nature of Japanese elementary and junior high school students' perceptions of different media, the effect of teachers on these perceptions, and the relationship between perceptions and student learning. The studies of fifth graders and eighth graders also addressed gender and class differences. (Contains…

A total of 76 children, ages 3 through 5, were asked to evaluate how preschool teachers should intervene in children's social and moral transgressions. Older preschoolers preferred explicit teacher explanations over punishment or nonintervention, whereas all preferred punishment over nonintervention. Younger girls preferred explanations for moral…

This activities-based handbook is designed to assist both mentors and mentees in colleges and universities in developing a relationship that is respectful, meaningful, and fulfilling. It defines the terms associated with the mentoring process and discusses how knowledge of self is critical to developing a successful mentor-mentee relationship. The…

A study was conducted: (1) to compare the popularity of computer stations with nine other activity stations; (2) to determine the differences in the type of play displayed by the children in preschool and note the type of play displayed at the computer stations versus the other activity stations; (3) to determine whether the preschool activities,…

Examines research concerning the effects of cultural expectations, school structure, and parent expectations on the reading attitudes and performance of boys and girls in different countries. (FL)

Emphasizing the complex relationships among story, ethnicity, and gender, this book explores the nature of story--the basic functions it serves, its connections to the diverse sociocultural landscape of society, and its power in the classroom. In addressing concerns about how to most effectively serve increasingly diverse student populations, the…

The effects of introducing a microcomputer into an elementary-school classroom were studied using a naturalistic paradigm. Initial questions investigated the impact of the microcomputer on children's behavior, interactions, and responses to available software; and on the teacher's role. Data were fathered through: weekly observation for 4 months;…

Explores the differences in attitudes of three groups of facilitators toward emergent literacy learning, in relation to child's age, child's sex, and type of early childhood education facilities in Korea. Identifies the discrepancies in attitudes toward emergent literacy learning. Notes a significant difference in writing, but not in reading…

This paper explores reasons why some students with English as a Second Language (ESL) feel less entitled to speak out in class than others, discussing ways in which teachers can widen the definition of participation. The first section explains how student background can affect participation. For students who are non-native English speakers and who…

The main perspective taken in this paper is that peer relationships in childhood provide more than incidental social experiences and constitute social contexts beyond those in the family. In the context of peer relationships, children's development continues to progress as children expand their experiences and increase their knowledge. Three major…