The purpose of this article is to investigate the effect of an introductory traditional Greek dances programme on the motor proficiency development of pre-school-age children. The sample of this research consisted of 66 students (36 boys and 30 girls) attending public kindergarten in Argolida prefecture (Greece), aged 4-6 years (X = 59.79 plus or…

This report puts forth the position of the Ministry of Education of Alberta, Canada, with respect to the physical development of the elementary school student as the basis for his or her cognitive, emotional, social, and moral development. The report describes normal physical development during the first 10 years of life in the domains of…

In educating children with disabilities, training for independence should begin early, and the "technology" may be very simple. This paper lists activities designed to increase gross, fine motor, cognitive, and eye-hand coordination skills needed for independent living. It encourages caregivers to engage young children in active learning…

Two studies on cognitive performance in mentally retarded children are reported. In the first study, the Bayley Scales of Infant Development were administered to 56 mentally retarded children, aged 2 to 6, to determine the possibility of discerning subsets of items that form a developmental pattern of interrelated subscales, using the SCAMMO scale…

In conjunction with Public Law 101-476, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Head Start programs are committed to including children with disabilities as 10 percent of their student population. This study sought to determine the effects of training on Head Start providers' attitudes toward children with disabilities and their knowledge…

Play therapy can be used to help children with disabilities to develop a sense of strength and competency. Play therapy literature concerning children with disabilities is divided into two distinct approaches: (1) the "I am" attribute which deals with emotional adjustment and helps the child to develop positive self-esteem, personal competency,…

This study explored the way parents use information sources for information about their child's motor, social, and cognitive development. This study sought to identify: (1) variations in parental use of information based on the domain of the child's development for which the parent sought information; (2) the role of parent and child gender in…

This handbook is a guide and reference document for those researching the child data files of the 1986-1990 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, sponsored by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It describes the child data collection procedures, the nature of the child sample, the child data files available, and the specifics of the child assessments…

It is generally recognized that early childhood experiences are extremely important for human development. The development of rational thinking, attention span, and ability to memorize in the first years of life are very much dependent upon motor experiences gained through exploring and comprehending. Early learning experiences should not be…

Over 80 short activity ideas covering many areas of the curriculum are compiled for teachers of preschool, kindergarten, and the early grades. Six "readiness roundup" sections, which feature ideas for use in classroom learning centers, give activities for teaching: (1) likenesses and differences; (2) direction; (3) letter and sound…

A study tested the feasibility of a task-analytical instructional approach to developing vocational skills for severely and profoundly retarded individuals. During the study, each of 43 severely and profoundly retarded individuals received twelve 15-minute individual training sessions on each of four selected vocational tasks (the Stromberg…

Focusing on areas of development related to Chapter 53 screening, this manual is designed to assist New York City teachers in using the screening results to support optimal development for the children in their classes. Chapter 53 of the Laws of 1980 provides for the screening of all new entrants into the school system, usually in kindergarten or…

This book deals with the promotion of body awareness through use of educational gymnastics, with handicapped or non-handicapped but poorly coordinated children of all age levels. The method provides an analytical approach to movement, encourages children to listen to language, and assists them in creating their own activities. The activities and…

Designed to inform professionals about how a child behaves when not in school, the Parent Inventory of Child Development in Nonschool Environments assesses the affective behavior (including activity level, adaptability, distractability, moodiness, sociability and persistence) and the fine motor, gross motor, communication skills, and cognitive…

This paper presents, in question-and-answer format, a discussion of the complexities and implications of physical education theory and suggestions for applying this knowledge to the development of physical fitness programs in Canadian schools. The questions consider: (1) the need for physical exercise; (2) definition of physical fitness; (3) basic…