A study compared the effects of choice and assignment of preferred/nonpreferred tasks to three students (ages 11-13) with moderate intellectual impairments and challenging behavior in a classroom setting. Results indicate individual participant data were idiosyncratic and choice making failed to produce superior effects for any of the…

Two studies examined whether sustained attention during object exploration reflects more active cognitive processing than do other attention components. One study suggested that length of infants' examining is related to the amount of information to be processed. The other showed infants were less distractible during examining, suggesting that…

This study, based on a socio-constructivist approach, seeks to help children to develop the cognitive processes of decentration and anticipation. Analysis focuses on observation of children's behavior while playing ball in a group and then on the graphic representation of the actions drawn by the children after each play session. (Author/JKP)

Provides classroom techniques to help children develop the skill to pull back from turmoil or stress, evaluate their emotional states, redirect their energy, and find peace in their minds. Activities described include relaxation and breathing games, as well as calming physical activities. (HTH)

Examined the rough-and-tumble play and gender of preferred playmates in three- to eight-year olds with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)--hypothesized to masculinize behaviors that show sex differences--and in unaffected three- to eight-year-old relatives. Found that CAH girls did not exhibit increased levels of masculine behavior when compared…

Examined effects of a reduced-scale play environment on the temporal aspects of complex play behavior. Children playing with playdough in a 7 x 5 x 5-foot structure began complex play more quickly, played in longer segments, and spent slightly more time in complex play than when in full-size conditions, suggesting that scale-reduced environments…

Young children scream throughout their days and for different reasons. They may be hurt, frustrated or simply tired; caregivers can detect the cause of the scream. Several strategies are available for dealing with screamers; the most important approach is respecting the child by acknowledging the emotions behind the scream and helping the child…

Examined whether the mastery-oriented and helpless motivational patterns would be identified in Korean American kindergartners, and whether these patterns would be associated with general beliefs about goodness/badness. Found that Korean American children revealed more vulnerabilities in the face of negative feedback and they had more global,…

Presents a historical overview of the pragmatic and multidisciplinary field of child psychopathology, its origins, evolving trends, and future directions as a supplement to the 1998 edition of Ollendick and Hersen's "Handbook of Child Psychopathology." Follows with a detailed review and evaluation of the handbook, with general…

Examined the impact of racial identity attitudes on African American parents' child-rearing beliefs. Parent surveys indicated that parents with immersion attitudes endorsed discipline and religion but not independence in children. Parents with internalization attitudes supported all Afrocentric parenting beliefs and child-rearing practices…

Investigated the ways 0-6 year-old children express their altruism, particularly the feelings and actions making up the altruistic behavior in this period of development, based on parent reports. Found that children behave altruistically almost from birth, with a great variety of this feeling from 2-4 years old, mostly expressed toward loved…

Developed direct observational measure of children's attachment to inanimate objects such as blankets and soft toys among object-attached and non-object-attached 15- to 31-month-olds. Procedure varied arousal levels across situations. Found support for validity of the procedure in, among other factors, its ability to capture the preference of…

This study examined the relation between weather and mothers' perceptions of children's moods. Thirty-three mothers rated their children for 30 days, and these scores were examined for their relation to six weather variables (barometric pressure, humidity, temperature, sunshine hours, precipitation, wind) and daily changes in variables. Results…

Addresses limitations of previous normative studies on the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI) and the Sutter-Eyberg Student Behavior Inventory (SESBI). Presents two studies that provide normative information on the ECBI for 2- to 17-year-old children and adolescents and on the SESBI for kindergarten through 6th grade children. Clinicians and…

Examined young children's metaplay--the process of suspending actual role playing to think or communicate about pretend themes from outside the play frame. Found three categories of metaplay behaviors, including initiations, responses, and constructions. Concluded that a rich array of developmentally useful interactions transpire outside of actual…