Describes aspects of self-concept that develop in toddlerhood: (1) self-recognition; (2) self-representation; (3) self-description; (4) self-assertion; (5) self-evaluation; and (6) self-regulation. Intervention ideas for children with special needs are presented based on three dimensions of the socializing environment: provision of inanimate…

Children ages 9-10 (n=30) were given social skills training and their scores on computer tasks were compared with 30 controls. Males scored highest on the pre and posttest. Females in mixed-sex groups scored better than females in girls-only groups. Girls who received social skills training had the highest rate of improvement. (SK)

Examined the relation between 3- to 5-year-olds' beliefs about the tendency for antisocial behavior to remain stable over time and their reasoning about peer interactions. Found that children who endorsed sociomoral stability beliefs were less likely than their peers to make prosocial inferences, were rated by their teachers as less likely to…

The skills and social impairments of 146 adolescents and young adults in London who had been found to have severe intellectual disabilities and/or autism as children in the 1970s were assessed. Classification as socially impaired or not remained relatively stable over time. Within the socially impaired group, there was a significant increase in…

A study examining the impacts of camp on staff interviewed 29 former seasonal camp staff. All respondents reported positive benefits in their personal and professional lives and the strong influence of camp in shaping career choices. Reflections on camp fell into three categories: uniqueness of camp, making memories for kids, and freedom. (TD)

This article offers suggestions on enhancing emotional vocabulary in early childhood education settings. A schematic of children's emotional literacy is followed by ways to build emotional vocabulary by teaching directly, teaching incidentally, or utilizing special activities. Suggestions also address teaching children to recognize feelings in…

Outdoor behavioral healthcare (OBH), using wilderness therapy and related outdoor programming, is an emerging treatment for adolescents with behavioral, psychological, and substance abuse disorders. A literature review examining OBH outcomes related to self-concept, interpersonal skills, substance abuse, criminal recidivism, and behavioral and…

Surveyed public school teachers regarding their perceptions of conflict in their schools, noting grade-level differences. Teachers perceived students as being pulled out of school due to student- and family-related factors. Students perceived they were pushed out of school due to school environments. Crucial elements in working with youth were…

This response to a paper on risk and resilience models in learning disabilities research supports this framework for research and practice with regard to the social and emotional functioning of children with learning disabilities. Research is urged to address the effect of family functioning and parenting, peer victimization, and the interaction…

Specific linguistic characteristics of responses to requests for clarification given by 4 children (ages 3-6) with intellectual impairments were investigated. Analysis focused on children's ability to locate the specific errors that provoked neutral requests for clarification and produce repair. Three children could locate errors and partly…

This study compared the 2-year outcomes of 68 children diagnosed with autism or Asperger syndrome at age 6-8 years in terms of symptoms from the Autism Diagnostic Interview. Significant differences were seen in the domains of social interaction, communication, and repetitive activities, with the Asperger group demonstrating fewer and/or less…

A longitudinal consultation project with teachers in an early education program for Ethiopian immigrant children in Israel is presented to illustrate the application of the reciprocal distancing model in cross-cultural consultation. Evidence for disengagement as well as joining of teachers and challenging children despite frustration and…

Investigates sense of community at Midwestern school district's middle and high schools. Finds, for example, that regardless of school level, teachers rated "teacher to student" interactions and relationships significantly more positively than did students. Recommends schools' sense of community be enhanced by integrating opportunities for…

The Positive Peer Group Intervention Program is designed to improve self-concept among at-risk students. Teachers were asked to identify children showing any one of four functional and/or dysfunctional characteristics of leaders. Since each group demonstrated qualitatively different social skills, it was hypothesized that the program would impact…

The personal home pages of five Internet service providers were sampled and 16 personal home pages of adults with Down syndrome were found that referred to friendships. A thematic analysis indicated the authors could be attempting to present an image of themselves as someone who is capable of having friends. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)