A review of recent literature suggests excessive drinking by parents has a negative impact on the behaviors of the child. The families in First Nations communities in Canada have suffered considerably because of alcohol and the pressures of the surrounding non-native community; valuable teachings of the Elders have come under attack and the loss…

The purpose of this "Written Language Developmental Continuum" brochure for second through fifth grades is to provide helpful information for parents, teachers, and other adults as they work with young children to advance and refine written language (writing) competence. The brochure is intended to be a useful tool for assessing…

Noting that parenting today is challenging because of the dangerous examples and attitudes to which children are exposed, this book discusses seven habits that parents can adopt to help them establish a good relationship with their children. Chapters 1 through 3 discuss the habits that deal with the styles and routines in daily situations: (1)…

"Empirically Based Play Interventions for Children" is a compilation of innovative, well-designed play interventions, presented for the first time in one text. Play therapy is the oldest and most popular form of child therapy in clinical practice and is widely considered by practitioners to be uniquely responsive to children's developmental needs.…

Two studies examined impact of teacher background and teacher/child ratio on child and teacher behavior in a child care environment. Both studies indicate more effective performances produced by teachers with higher degrees. One study suggests lower ratios are more effective. No interactive effect of ratio and background was noted. (MT)

Data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth on 2,342 children aged 6-7 and born between 1979 and 1984 suggest that children's behavior problems are related to current family and parental employment conditions and earlier maternal resources and vulnerabilities (early deviance, self-esteem in 1980, smoking during pregnancy, cognitive…

This study of the oral motor behaviors of seven toddlers (age 15 months) may be interpreted to indicate that: (1) mandibular coordination follows a developmental continuum from earlier emerging behaviors, such as chewing and sucking, through babbling, to speech, or (2) unique task demands give rise to distinct mandibular coordinative constraints…

Examined the effects of two forms of organization of pretend play on children's behavior in the cognitive and affective domains as observed in a mixed-age environment: teacher-directed frontal play, with all children involved, and child-directed small group play. Found a significant increase in cognitive domain behavior during child-directed group…

Three child psychology studies illustrate that although behavior can be shaped by rewards and punishments, children also learn through imitating adult role models. When parents combine control and warmth, children are more independent, responsible, and content than when either control or warmth is absent. Human behavior is influenced by context…

This study used archival data from an outpatient clinic to examine gender differences in young children exhibiting disruptive behavior disorders. Findings showed that males typically had higher scores than females on parent and teacher completed measures of child behavior disorders. Significantly more males than females had conduct disorders, and…

This study coded descriptions of disliked peers provided by U.S. and Indonesian 11- and 14-year-olds for references to physical, verbal, and three types of relational aggression. Found that physical aggression was mentioned more frequently by boys, adolescents, and Indonesians, with no significant differences in verbal aggression references. Girls…

Contains the following articles to help teachers support children's imagination: (1) "Time, Trust, and Tools: Opening Doors to Imagination for All Children" (Kirsten Haugen); (2) "The Connection between Play and Character" (David Elkind); (3) "Magnets Can Dance and Vanilla Smells Warm" (Alison Lutton); and (4)…

Offers suggestions for parents in dealing with a young child's anger when it manifests itself as hitting. Suggestions focus on impulse control and include the following: (1) describe appropriate behavior; (2) show and teach self-control; (3) uncover reasons for anger; (4) prevent out-of-control behavior; (5) calming techniques; (6) and controls…

Discusses teachers' sensitivity in the context of young children's peer conflicts. Explains that young children need to experience their own actions as logical and sound and that they co-construct logic-in-action (procedural knowledge) long before they can verbalize their logic. Maintains that teachers who do not respect children's logic often…

Examined preschoolers' peer acceptance, aggression, and peer competence. Found that children with at least one mutual friend were better liked by peers and were rated by teachers as being more competent than children with no mutual friend. Children with at least one mutual friend were better liked by peers a year later than children with no mutual…