Previous studies have indicated some support for the hypothesis that breast feeding has a positive effect on intelligence and attainment among young children. This study examined the effects of breast-feeding versus bottle-feeding on the intelligence quotients (IQs) of first graders. A total of 26 breast-fed and 26 bottle-fed first graders from an…

Researchers have hypothesized that the impact of environmental risk on infants and young children may be mediated by the impact of environmental risk on mothers. Epidemiological surveys have found high-risk environments to be associated with depression in adults. Further clarification about the factors which may exacerbate or alleviate the impact…

Noting that parents often receive little support during their child's first weeks and months, this paper discusses how voluntary home visiting for families with young children can help provide parents of all educational, economic, and cultural backgrounds with the information, advice, and support they need in their new role. The paper notes the…

This guidebook for parents and early intervention personnel was developed by the "Let's Play! Project," a 3-year federally supported project that worked to promote play in infants and toddlers with disabilities through the use of "low-tech" assistive technology. The guide is organized around six emerging stages of play development: (1) sensory…

In recent years, much stimulating research has emerged in relation to children's theories of mind, construed as the understanding of others' intentions, beliefs, and desires. Within that context, there is renewed interest in the developmental origins of social cognition. An expression of that new interest, this book assembles current…

Because sleep disturbances are common in childhood, almost every parent will have to deal with a child's sleeptime problems at some point. This guide offers information on sleep in children from birth through adolescence. The book answers common questions from parents, and provides advice on preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, getting infants…

In the United States, approximately 12% of infants are born preterm and 8% are born low birthweight. Prematurity and low birthweight have been associated with "high risk" pregnancies (poor prenatal care, maternal smoking or drug use, illness or disease) and other factors, such as maternal depression and/or elevated stress hormone levels.…

Infants ranging in age from six months to eight months were shown repeated instances of real object movement-disappearance-reappearance. Results suggest that the key changes in early cognitive development rest primarily upon the infant's gradual adaptation of old responses through encounters with new events--rather than upon the acquisition of…

The purpose of this paper is to discuss some dimensions by which the verbal environment provided by mothers for their very young children can be characterized, and to provide some data regarding middle and lower socioeconomic class verbal environment. (CS)

These studies focused on sex differences and were designed to test the hypothesis that girls were more likely to be immobilized by a fear stimulus than boys. (Authors/CB)