Reviews five books: (1) "Language Acquisition: A Linguistic Introduction" (Helen Goodluck); (2) "Pathways to Number: Children's Developing Numerical Abilities" (Jacqueline Bideaud and others); (3) "The Collaborative Construction of Pretend" (Carolee Howes); (4) "The Role of Parents in the Development of Child's Peer Acceptance" (Maja Dekovic); and…

Investigated the types of social issues that produce conflicts; the extent to which children respond positively to protests from others; and the ways in which conflicts are resolved. Results indicated that preschoolers' conflicts were not solely negative or aggressive and that their social interaction and social contexts were multidimensional.…

Examined communication strategies that 68 preschoolers used to negotiate themes and roles in social pretend play. A major finding was that children in the disliked group used higher proportions of suggestions and demands than did children in the liked and low-impact groups. Disliked girls used the highest proportion of suggestions. (LB)

This article reviews research on child development relevant to the question of the veracity of mistreatment allegations made by children ages two to five years. The article covers research on thought and language, memory and learning, fears, fantasy, play, and television's effects. It is concluded that preschoolers base their play on the reality…

This article describes an intervention in which three parents were taught to use facilitative strategies when interacting with their children with profound mental retardation. The intervention consisted of reinforcing appropriate parent behavior as it was being observed by them on prerecorded videotapes. Facilitative strategies included the use of…

This study, involving 40 young siblings of either handicapped or nonhandicapped children, found that siblings of handicapped children engaged in more parallel and social play and were more nurturing with their siblings than were control children. Mothers were more likely to deliver commands, directives, and reprimands to siblings of handicapped…

This article reports a study of the communication development (especially concerning effect of context on content and mean length of utterance) within a family consisting of hearing parents, two hearing daughters, and a newly adopted deaf daughter (aged 2:8-3:0). Findings suggested that play contexts were more conducive to language acquisition…

Discusses the benefits that young children derive from dramatic play and how dramatic play is enhanced by prop boxes (boxes in which are stored objects related to various areas of children's dramatic play such as bakery, repair shop, grocery store, and fire station). Also discusses how teachers can obtain and use prop boxes. (BB)

Argues that the early childhood field should be renamed early childhood educare and that Vygotsky's sociocultural theory is a more appropriate theoretical framework for the field than Piaget's. Discusses the role of language, internalization of interpersonal processes, importance of intersubjectivity, and role of adult and peer tutors in…

Reviews three books (1) "Montessori Play and Learn: A Parents Guide to Purposeful Play from Two to Six" (Lesley Britton); (2) "Health and Safety in Child Care" (Susan S. Aronson); and (3) "The Schoolhome: Rethinking Schools for Changing Families" (Jane Roland Martin). (MDM)

Observed and analyzed the play of 60 U.S. and Mexican toddlers and their mothers. Found cultural differences in children's pretend play, the mutual involvement of mothers and children in pretend play, the behaviors mothers used to structure play, and mothers' value of children's play. (MM)

Using ethnographic methods and taking a sociocultural perspective, examined preschoolers' social competence. Focused on the interactions of two children who were members of a peer group and one who sought membership in the group but was rejected. Discusses the importance of the sociocultural perspective to understanding children's social…

Evaluated effects of mixed-age and same-age classrooms on dimensions of mastery during play for young children developing normally and for disabled children. Found that children's developmental maturation was related to the sophistication of their play mastery for children without disabilities in both settings and for children with disabilities in…

American education reflects a social belief that work and leisure are separate, yet public schools are expected to educate for both. The article discusses education and work, the emergence of clock time, functions of public education, the role of play in education, and public schools' roles in the year 2000. (SM)

A behavioral consultation approach was effectively used to reduce problem behaviors in 2 field studies with 3 students (ages 10-14) having severe or profound mental retardation and their teachers. Intervention involved extinction of inappropriate behaviors, reinforcement of appropriate play behaviors, and teaching verbal skills functionally…