Tested three hypotheses concerning effects of pubertal timing on substance use during early adolescence. Findings supported only the stage termination hypothesis. Early maturing boys and girls reported a higher frequency of substance use within the following year after puberty than did the other participants, with the effects being more pronounced…

Explores the more common birth defects, noting their rates, causes, and potential for prevention. Highlights the trend toward leading more normal lives for children with such impairments. (HTH)

Sharon Crane is a pediatric occupational therapist with over 20 years of experience working with children and families. "Zero to Three" interviews her to discuss how occupational therapy may move beyond a strictly therapeutic orientation toward services that address wellness and prevention. Crane has created programs for parents and…

Background: Schools in K-12 have generated mission statements as ways of focusing their efforts and energies in specific areas. These mission statements vary by institutional setting as a function of the stakeholders and constituent groups who facilitate their development. To date, no studies were located in which the mission statements of…

How can language and literacy enhance emotional development in the very young (birth to three years)? Although all children begin to understand their world through language and social interaction, literacy differs from culture to culture. It can range from oral stories of personal and cultural relevance to songs of ethnic pride and includes a…

Counseling mothers of small children in effective growth monitoring and promotion is both an art and a science. Virtually all primary health care programs contain a Growth Monitoring and Promotion component (GMP). It is vital that supervisors and community health workers of GMP programs have a clear understanding of why communication skills are…

This booklet for caregivers of infants and toddlers with disabilities is intended to provide an overview of early childhood development, from birth to 36 months of age. The booklet is organized into 3-month age spans for the first year, 6-month age spans for the second year, and a 12-month age span for the third year. For each level, typical…

Some of the more frequently observed reflex patterns in cerebral palsy are examined, and descriptions are given of how they affect movement. A chart outlines: (1) desirable movement patterns; (2) typical abnormal movement of the cerebral palsied child; (3) possible physical cause of abnormal movements; and (4) activities which may facilitate…

Psychomotor skills need to be taught in technical education courses. Some students can be taught more easily than others, depending on their physical attributes. These attributes are speed, steadiness, perception, dexterity, agility/flexibility, endurance, equilibrium/balance, strength, and coordination. Before students attempt to learn vocational…

The off-season football strength training and conditioning program at the University of Miami was developed to emphasize commitment and continued intensity of effort on the part of the individual player. The program emphasizes the intrinsic rewards of physical conditioning, positive reinforcement for effort, and individual responsibility for…

This document reviews research findings on criteria used to determine age of entry into first grade. Criteria discussed include chronological age, mental age, I.Q., sex, and physical development (teething, visual development, etc.). In general, the research reviewed supports later entry, especially for children with below average intelligence. For…

This article reports the level of androgynous development found in university students attracted to the sport experience. The Bem's Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) was administered to 45 female physical education majors 20 female varsity athletes, 35 male physical education majors and 45 male varsity athletes at the University of Pittsburgh. Percentages…

Work supported by a grant from the Children's Bureau, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.

This booklet explores why movement education is important for preschool children, what activities to include in a program, how and where to conduct a program, and criteria that can help to structure the program environment. The first section presents a rationale for the use of movement education for helping preschool children to develop…

In 16 self-contained units, this programmed text explores those aspects of growth and development that form the basis of child health care. The text is designed for a wide audience--students beginning their study of growth and development, health-related and social service personnel, medical students, and physicians. The first two units cover…