Discusses two approaches that parents and preschool teachers can use to encourage fantasy play among young children: creating a supportive environment and taking part in play. The ages of the children involved can help teachers decide which method is more helpful. (BB)

Findings suggest a certain amount of discordance in teacher and peer perceptions of children's likability, and an association of discordance with differential perceptions of children's social behaviors. A teacher preference measure used in combination with sociometric measures may provide more reliable assessment of social adjustment than peer…

Provides day care center directors with ideas on such topics as managerial courage, the process of handling the work environment, improved self-image, success secrets of good learners, high achievers, and chronic complainers.(BB)

Social-cognitive modes of play and peer responses were observed in two classrooms of 40 three-year-olds, two classrooms of 32 four-year-olds, and two classrooms of 36 three- and four-year-olds. Developmental differences appeared in play patterns in same-age but not in mixed-age classrooms. (TJH)

Examination of age-specific state-level data from the 1977-1980 reports of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Census Bureau reveals that availability of employment produces strong effects on juvenile arrest rates. Unemployment and low quality of employment (e.g., inadequate pay and hours) is associated with high arrest rates. (Author/BJV)

Validated models of mental addition processing by testing children and adults in a production task paradigm. Examined individual-difference relations between strategy choice parameters and criterion-related measures of ability. Found that individual differences in the apparently calculative processes that underlie numerical facility are highly…

This study investigated 60 general education teachers' beliefs, skills, and practices in planning and making adaptations for students with learning disabilities mainstreamed into general education. Results indicated that, even among skilled teachers, gaps exist between beliefs, practices, and skills. Differences were also found among elementary,…

Administration of 2 affective tests to 89 students with learning disabilities (LD) in grades 4-8 revealed that subjects perceived the school environment and academic tasks as 2 separate factors. LD students, compared to nondisabled students, exhibited more positive attitudes toward the school environment than for academic learning tasks. School…

Analysis of interactions during 55 videotaped interviews of high-risk sex abuse cases found no support for the assumption that a credible disclosure of abuse must include the display of emotion by the child. Some behavioral differences between preschool and school-age children were found, but no gender differences. (Author/DB)

Offers a profile of drug use and attitudes among junior high school-aged youth (n=1,004) from 3 types of midwestern communities. Describes experience with and attitudes toward drug use for this population as a whole, as well as variations between and among groups by gender, age, grade level, ethnicity, and community size. (JPS)

Interviews conducted with 602 youths at public health clinics revealed that a history of physical abuse, sexual abuse, or rape was related to engaging in a variety of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviors and to a continuation or increase in the number of these behaviors between adolescence and young adulthood. (Author/JDD)

This study investigated specific processing strengths and weaknesses among 75 readers, ages 6-10, with no oral language deficits. Unsuccessful readers of different ages showed similar information processing patterns, and differed from successful first-grade readers on short-term auditory/working memory and decoding/encoding. Three potential…

Studied changes in prejudice toward blacks and Native Indians among white children between ages six and nine. Found that older children were less prejudiced than younger children. Favorable-white and unfavorable-black evaluations did not decline with age, but unfavorable-white and favorable-black evaluations increased with age, and counter-bias…

Responses of 1,135 Australian children and adolescents to 6 televised excerpts portraying violence were studied. Although no single pattern of age, social class, or gender differences was found, younger subjects were more likely to endorse authority positions whether these were accepting or rejecting of violence. (SLD)

Students (n=87) with conduct disorders revealed higher self-ratings and teacher ratings in depression and anxiety than students with learning disabilities (LD) or no disabilities. LD students (n=85) did not self-rate as more depressed and anxious than nondisabled children but received higher depression ratings from teachers. Gender, age, and…