Presents data showing that the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory's (CDI) large variability, lack of stability, and insufficient ability to predict early language delay are authentic reflections of individual differences in early language development rather than measurement deficiencies. Responds to critiques regarding sociodemographic…

A literature review of seven articles published from 1980 to 1996 on the effects of parental participation in the intervention program for children with cerebral palsy found that most of the studies reported positive results, especially for child-related outcomes. Effects on parents were related to parental involvement in goal setting. (Author/CR)

Habituated 180 neonates to white lights of varying luminance and tested for recovery of habituation to green, yellow, or red lights varying in excitation purity. Found that newborns discriminated chromatic stimuli from white only when excitation purity exceeded levels much higher than those for adults. Results reinforce view that neonates' vision…

Used visual preference technique to examine infants' (mean age 14.8 months) comprehension of two novel words for images of novel objects. Found that infants looked preferentially at images that matched an auditory stimulus and that infants showed learning after about 12 presentations of new words. Results support previous demonstration of rapid…

Notes that "Handbook" presents 10 topics related to attachment interventions, including attachment disorders as an antecedent to violence, ADHD treatment, permanency planning, and adoption. Maintains that the handbook's tone and style varies from the highly practical to the broadly philosophical although the specific professional…

Analysis of data collected from a Persian-English bilingual infant over 10 months beginning at age 9 months found that, in comparison to the monolingual child in a previous study by Halliday, both children developed pragmatic functions from a very early age. A categorization system is proposed to facilitate the analysis of child language…

Discusses Needham's findings that infants individuate objects by feature, within the framework of brain mechanisms that index or track individual objects, drawing upon theories of attention and working memory developed in the study of adults. Considers Needham's work as contributing to an understanding of categorization and the effect of object…

Investigated stability over time and consistency across contexts in the interactive behaviors of infants and their mothers during play and bath sessions. Found responsiveness was a highly stable and consistent personal style; mothers' expression of positive affect was more time-dependent than an enduring quality; and maternal directiveness was the…

A study compared the play interaction of four parents with infants with visual impairments, four parents with infants with hearing impairments, and four parents with normal infants. Findings showed parents developed exchange routines that matched the developmental and sensory status of their infants. Interventions for play interaction are…

Maintains that Muller and Overton (1998) misrepresent her theory of infant concept formation in infancy, makes corrections to their representation, and notes that her theory was developed in part because of the lack of detailed mechanisms in Piaget's theory to account for concept formation. Argues that Muller and Overton's proposed alternative…

Examined effects of child temperament and mothers' rule justifications on ratings of compliance with rules concerning safety, safeguarding property, interpersonal issues, and conventions. Found that compliance increased with age, that parent-rated child temperament and harm justification predicated mothers' ratings of rules and child compliance,…

Reviews Bassett's work intended to provide information to people training to be caregivers to infants and young children. Notes the clear presentation, wide coverage, and skill checklists. Recommends the book for parents and infant and child caregivers. (JPB)

Examined the predictive value of infant attachment security at 1 year for career development attitudes and educational aspirations at 18 years. Analyses of archived longitudinal study assessments and interviews at adolescence showed that secure orientations related to better career development outcomes. (JPB)

This article focuses on early intervention implementation concerns and recommendations for addressing the needs of the wide range of infants and toddlers with disabilities and families to be served. It describes providing services in natural environments, as well as the issues of personnel preparation and models of service delivery. (Contains…

A study of 28 infants (ages 8-12 months) investigated their ability to drink from a straw. Results indicate 22 percent were not able to drink from a straw, whereas 78 percent were able to do so. Data failed to reveal any significant differences based on gender, age, or ethnicity. (Contains nine references.) (Author/CR)