Two studies examined preschoolers' conflict behavior in peer and sibling dyads. Found that conflicts were quickly resolved in nonaggressive ways, and they occurred within the context of ongoing, coordinated play. Most conflicts occurred between same-gender dyads. Age was also found to influence conflict behavior. (HTH)

Since camp counselors become surrogate parents, they can benefit from learning parenting skills. Parenting styles, relationship building, cabin rules, compliance, positive reinforcement, and discipline are discussed. A sidebar describes a structured time-out program for strong-willed children ages 4-11, and a disagreement program that teaches…

Examined the relationship between parenting alliance and child behavior problems with 53 mothers of two- to 15-year-olds at a pediatric outpatient clinic. Found a significant, moderately negative correlation between the Parenting Alliance Inventory (PAI) and the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI), even when controlling for Marital Adjustment…

A study assessed the relationship between play and adaptive behavior among 13 preschool children with developmental disabilities. Children were assessed every six months over a three-year period. While adaptive behavior increased by almost one standard deviation, appropriate play showed little overall change over the three-year period. (Author/CR)

Evaluated effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral parenting program for parents of children ages 1 to 5 years offered through community-based family resource centers. Found that participants showed significant decreases in use of verbal and corporal punishment, and increases in nurturing behaviors as measured by the Parent Behavior Checklist.…

This study examined the validity and reliability of the Pre-school Behaviour Checklist (PBCL) for Turkish nursery school children. Data were obtained from 902 children, 24 to 82 months old, attending state or private nursery schools. Findings suggested that the PBCL has psychometric properties comparable to the British sample and could be used…

This study investigated the effect of teacher interactive style on the participation of preschool children with learning disabilities in dyadic play and instructional interactions. Observations showed that teacher interactions accounted for a significant portion of the variability in children's engagement, discouraging children's initiations.…

Describes experiences of children in two public preschools in Russia, one a typical district preschool, the other, an experimental preschool. Presents case studies for each school, focusing on family, setting, teacher characteristics, and child behaviors and public policy. Notes the effect of tradition, beliefs, and policies on the preschool…

Behaviors that constitute violence include threatening behavior, verbal or written threats, harassment, verbal abuse, vandalism, theft, arguments, and physical attacks. Describes 14 policy actions that camp management can take to prevent violence, 20 warning signs of violence, how violence impacts camps, and 5 tips for creating a safe camp. (TD)

Claims there is a missing link between the two seemingly independent stories in Will Hobbs' novel "Bearstone." This missing link can be found through looking at four kinds of play that occur in the novel. (NH)

Analyzed the discourse of 9- to 12-year-olds on the subject of their development, creating an ethnographic account of the meaning of development in peer culture. The interviewed children distinguished a linear concept of development as both a natural process and a goal. Their discourse continually reconceptualized the relations between the sexes…

Investigated the role of community violence and poverty in the psychological difficulties of South African children residing in black townships. Mothers' ratings of their 6-year-olds confirmed community danger as a risk factor for anxiety, depression, aggression, and low affability in children. Lower socioeconomic status was unrelated to…

Employed a measure of recalled childhood gender nonconformity to examine gender role behaviors in association with body dissatisfaction among ethnically diverse, homosexual and heterosexual, predominantly college-aged males. Gay males reported more body dissatisfaction and recalled more childhood gender atypical behaviors. Group differences in…

Workshops examine the importance of rituals and manners in children's lives: (1) "Creating Community, Generating Hope, Connecting Future and Past: The Role of Rituals in Our Lives" (Neugebauer); (2) "Minding Our Manners...An Early Childhood Approach" (Parr); (3) "Respect Is a Verb: Help Children Put It into Practice"…

Asserts that teasing and bullying are hurtful to children physically and emotionally, and can seriously affect the child who does the teasing or bullying, the child who is teased or bullied, and bystanders who see it happening. Offers suggestions for Head Start to take positive action to address this behavior before it takes root and grows. (SD)