Discusses a study of the sociomoral atmosphere of three kindergarten classrooms and the sociomoral development of students. Reports that children were observed interacting as they played a board game. Concludes that the higher the level of interpersonal understanding enacted by the teacher, the higher the level enacted by children. (SG)

Discusses the causes of biting behavior and techniques that parents and educators can use to manage biting toddlers. Notes that solutions need to consider the developmental level and needs of the child, the influence of the child's environment, and the role of adults in the child's life. (MDM)

Examined how the preestablished framework of social relationships affect adjustment to the transition from home to a college dormitory. Subjects were 61 female first-year college students. Found that agemate-dominant-type students more easily developed relationships with new agemates and reported fewer difficulties in making the transition than…

Reviews the research on (1) developmental stages of play among young children; (2) solitary play as a separate continuum with its own developmental stages; and (3) benefits of solitary play on the child's whole development. (BB)

A study of middle-class mothers who reported teaching their children cognitive and academic, and social and life, skills shows differences in the relative emphasis on each. Results also suggest a need to increase parent education programs on fostering metacognition. (Author/LB)

Twenty-one articles employing peer-mediated interventions to promote social skills of children and adolescents with behavioral disorders were analyzed on their experimental, procedural, and generalization components. The review found that peer-mediated approaches produce immediate positive treatment effects and have contributed to the…

Relations among observed family interaction patterns, preadolescent boys' classroom self-restraint, and academic achievement were studied in a sample of 65 intact families. Findings identify behavioral self-restraint, a form of social competence, as a noncognitive mediator between the quality of family functioning and academic achievement in early…

The reliability and validity of the Working with Young Children and Their Families instrument were tested with 101 of 192 occupational therapists surveyed. The form proved to be a reliable way of measuring the outcome of workshops to improve therapists' competence in working with families of children with special needs. (SK)

This paper reviews what is known about social coordination in young children with disabilities, describes how social coordination develops in children with and without disabilities, discusses the role of social coordination in developing social competence, examines how available assessments of social skills address the concept of social…

This study compared the perceptions of 87 practicing and preservice special education teachers and 100 employers concerning critical factors for job success. Educators rank ordered the four job skill categories as work related, social, communication, and personal, whereas employers' rankings were work related, communication, personal, and social.…

Examines gender differences in social network (SN) development from early to middle childhood and the relation of network characteristics to school competence through mothers' reports of the SNs of 38 sons and 37 daughters. For girls, SN characteristics correspond to teacher ratings of social competence in school. (SLD)

Research findings and theories regarding adolescent contraceptive use are reviewed to propose an alternative framework relying on social learning theory. Environmental context, cognitive influences, and behavior execution constraints are suggested as the foundation for contraceptive behaviors. The behavioral skills teenagers need to use birth…

Adaptive behavior in mentally retarded males with fragile X syndrome was longitudinally examined in 17 subjects, ages 1 to 17. Findings included relative strength in daily living skills and weakness in socialization only for older subjects, and significant declines in adaptive behavior scores from first to second testing for the older subjects.…

PEECH (Programing for Early Education of Children with Handicaps) is a center-based program combining child-initiated and teacher-directed activities for children with mild to moderate disabilities, ages 3-5. Results of an evaluative study at the demonstration site and replication sites revealed participants' improvement in receptive and…

Describes features of organized camping that are conducive to social learning, including the continuity and variety of the camping experience; planned, goal-oriented experiences; qualified adult leadership; and the informal atmosphere of camping. Stresses the role of small-group experiences as the most important aspect of camplife and social…