Noting that all parents can help their baby's brain to grow, this guide, in English- and Spanish-language versions, explores what science has learned about infant brain development and how parents and caregivers can influence cognitive development. Topics covered include: prenatal care, touching your baby, teaching about feelings and self-control,…

The Integrated Preschool Curriculum (IPC), which is designed to facilitate the social integration of young children at risk for learning disabilities into mainstreaming and integrated special education classes, was compared with a standard early childhood education model curriculum. The IPC successfully promoted social interaction between…

Common themes emerge from the writings of John Dewey and George Herbert Mead on four educational topics discussed here: (1) play; (2) science teaching; (3) history teaching; and (4) industrial education. Both men deplored the fragmentation of education and believed moral insight could be furthered through social understanding, science, and…

Physical, cognitive, and social-emotional symptoms of autism are described, along with possible causes of the condition and treatments. A "theraplay" physical education program in Newark, Delaware, is discussed, where physical activities such as rhythm, body awareness, perceptual motor development, and swimming are used to engage…

Elementary school children's definitions of work and play reveal three varieties of play: instrumental play, recreation, and illicit play. Each variety includes elements of both accommodation and resistance. Teachers' reaction to children's play serves to maintain their control of classroom events without banning play entirely from the elementary…

The effects of three modes of story reconstruction training on the development of children's story comprehension are examined. One hundred and eight children in grades K-2 were assigned randomly to one of three training conditions: thematic-fantasy play, adult-lead discussion, or drawing. (Author/PN)

Analyzes present transgenerational family therapy theory and discusses the change process. Individuation-relational ethics is presented in a (Hegelian) dialectic with intimacy. Suggests that playfulness, including paradox and absurdity, is an effective intervention into the intense emotionality of intergenerational work. (Author)

Discusses an approach to moral education that is based on developmental theory and involves creative dramatics and role playing of themes in children's books. Guidelines for preparatory exercises, an outline of the dramatization process, and a list of books classified according to feelings, emotions, and character traits illuminated in the stories…

Reviews four current approaches to play behavior of young children and concludes that using forms of play such as puppets and body action movements to rehearse story content is effective in aiding aural language comprehension and recall in young children. (FL)

Previous studies on fantasy play tutoring are reviewed and research reported on the effect of the adult-child contact in this situation. Matched samples of preschoolers received either play or skills tutoring with equivalent tutor verbal contact. In these circumstances, differential advantages to the play-tutored children were few. (SJL)

Cognitive styles are broad, systematic characteristics that influence people's responses in different situations. Field dependence independence (FDI) is the cognitive style construct that has generated the most research. Describes the FDI characteristics in young children's social behaviors, including their social orientation, people-versus-object…

Claims that role play has a crucial role in early childhood education. Discusses the essence of play, child development, and the concept of frame play, whereby children and teachers plan and play together. Provides two examples of frame play and discusses their educational implications. (MOK)

Notes the differences between kindergarten and first grade in terms of children's learning styles and curriculum. Points out that play can be useful in kindergarten and also first-grade classrooms. Suggests the use of child-initiated learning centers to provide age-appropriate and individually appropriate activities. Gives examples of…