This article discusses the universal individual need to be recognized as a person, to be accepted by others, and to successfully interact with others in school and community endeavours. (JD)

Describes issues surrounding development of tolerance in young children, including relationship of moral development with cognitive development. Recognizes importance of family and other adult models, and argues that teaching about tolerance should be embedded in an inclusive approach to curriculum, with children given opportunities to make…

Freida Jacques, Onondaga clan mother, discusses the discipline of the "good mind," which involves becoming aware of your thoughts, examining the intent of your actions, and deciding whether your intent is based on love or fear and anger. Peace and healing must be achieved through forgiveness and respect. Sidebars discuss Native American…

Examined whether features of preschool children's mutual friendships were associated with prosocial and aggressive behavior. Teacher reports of friendship features showed moderate interrater reliability and were associated with teacher reports of aggression and prosocial behavior, and with peer reports of acceptance and rejection. Friendship…

Describes a systematic cooperative-based curriculum which enables students to comprehend, utilize, and internalize cooperative behaviors. Students practice specific behavioral strategies and social skills necessary for successful cooperation with others. Sample activities and lessons plans are included. (JD)

Young children are capable of prosocial behavior interactions during participation in games; and for the children who participated in the study reported in this article, games possessing cooperative goal structures resulted in more prosocial behavior interactions than games possessing competitive goal structures. (IAH)

Investigated the relationship between the self-concept of four- and five-year-old children in day care, and the frequency of their prosocial behavior. Results indicated a significant correlation between self-concept and cooperative behaviors. Self-initiated cooperative behavior was more effective than other-initiated behavior. (Author/BB)

Describes the use of dyadic tasks to examine children's prosocial behavior and the supplement information already obtained from the use of four-person tasks. Describes tasks and information obtained from observation. Warns that validity of the tasks is questionable. Suggests that tasks have the potential for use in making comparisons. (KO)

Examined the relationship between 48 4-year-olds' social competence with peers and differential aspects of their teacher child relationships over the preceding 3 years. Found that toddler security with a teacher was negatively associated with hostile aggression and was positively associated with complex peer play and gregarious, prosocial, and…

Reviews strategies and techniques to enhance prosocial development. Suggests ways for involving whole classrooms, entire school systems, parents, and communities in creating classroom and home climates for prosocial expectations and learner support. Gives specific activities, strategies, guidelines, and resources. (ET)

Examined the role of three sympathy-related responses--cognitive, affective, and motivational--in adolescents' self-reports of prosocial response to distress in friends and acquaintances. Findings suggest that, in adolescents, affective and motivational responses can be differentiated along a dimension of other- versus self-orientation and that…

Calls for a "renaissance in civility," discussing definitions of civility and the need to encourage manners and responsible behavior in children and adolescents. Argues that it is essential that elementary school children develop social awareness and social skills and that secondary school students be encouraged to take a more active part in their…

Preschool children (n=32) were evaluated in an unstructured play session, matched for levels of appropriate or inappropriate social behavior, and assigned to a treatment or control condition. The treatment group conditions involved positive reinforcement, modeling, rehearsal, feedback, and time out. Although prosocial behaviors were successfully…

Based on one teacher's experiences with children's books that have caring themes, ways for teachers to nurture preschoolers' natural altruism are discussed. An annotated bibliography of books on caring for the sick, the disadvantaged, special friends, neighbors, siblings, parents and grandparents, people in distress, the environment, and animals…

Lists a total of 32 references and resources on techniques for conflict resolution in the preschool classroom, most dated in the 1980s and 1990s. (LB)