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…

Finds that eighth grade students in Facing History and Ourselves classrooms show increases in relationship maturity and decreases in racist attitudes and self-reported fighting behavior relative to comparison students. Reports that the gains made by Facing History students in moral reasoning and in civic attitudes and participation were not…

Study examined effectiveness of a substance abuse prevention program in preventing tobacco and alcohol use among elementary school students in grades 3 through 6. Program teaches social resistance skills and general personal and social competence skills. Findings indicate a school-based substance abuse prevention approach previously found to be…

A study evaluated the effectiveness of an 11-lesson psychoeducational program designed to enhance the ability of 14 children (ages 9-13) with hearing impairments to understand their own emotional experience and that of others. Children were enrolled in an "oral" education program. Results indicate significant increases in emotional vocabulary and…

A study involving elementary students with (n=336) and without (n=548) emotional disturbance (ED) found students with ED exceeded controls on the five ED characteristics stated in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which are inability to learn, relationship problems, inappropriate behavior, unhappiness or depression, and physical…

This study compared the ability of 20 young adults (mean age 29) and 22 older adults (mean age 63) with mild/moderate mental retardation to respond to requests for clarification in conversation. Neither group was as responsive to the requests as would have been predicted from their general cognitive and linguistic functioning levels. Few…

Helping preservice and beginning teachers develop social insight or "withitness" remains a critical challenge for teacher educators. Secondary students are particularly critical of teachers lacking these qualities. Student teachers' insight-developing strategies include exposing themselves to adolescent culture, affirming students'"weather,"…

A study of 43 children with mental retardation working with peers on a cooperative task found that different factors influence peer acceptance and rejection. Acceptance was influenced by overall quantity of a child's interactions and peer perceptions of positive behavior; rejection was influenced by positive behavior of the target child and peer…

This study investigated mother-child dyads of differing social status engaged in fantasy play (children were age 54 to 80 months). Contrary to expectations, high-status dyads did not produce more or more complex utterances during fantasy play than low-status dyads. Low-status dyads were characterized by more negative affect and child behavior…

Examined relations of children's regulation and emotionality to their social functioning. Found that resiliency mediated effects of individual differences in attentional regulation on social status and socially appropriate behavior, and that negative emotionality moderated the positive relation between attentional control and resiliency. Also…

A postgraduate management program used group work, presentations, and self- and peer assessments. Student respondents (n=36) indicated they developed transferable interpersonal skills. They appreciated the value of self-/peer assessment, but had difficulties implementing it. (SK)

Suggests a child's overall development is what makes academic learning possible. Notes that intelligence, the capacity to gain and use knowledge to solve problems and promote well-being, is comprised of cognitive, affective, and expressive components. Asserts that children need relationships with caring adults. Notes the School Development Program…

Discusses the rationale for social-skills training for workers with mental retardation. Offers definitions and behavioral standards of these skills and differences in the interaction patterns between workers with and without mental retardation. Critically reviews various intervention strategies. Makes recommendations on how to introduce…

The relationship between play scores and communication skills, measured in two ways, was investigated in 19 young children with Down syndrome. Results found the relationship between observations of children's play skills and their language competence was strongest when play scores were compared to mothers' reports of communicative competence.…

Effects of the Picture Exchange Communication System on the spontaneous communication skills and social interactions of a 6-year-old girl with autism across her home and school environments were evaluated. Results indicated increases in spontaneous language, increases in intelligible verbalizations in two of three settings, and changes in peer…