Principal aims of outdoor education at Belper School are to heighten awareness of and foster respect for self, others, and the natural environment. Outdoor education is committed to active learning through experiences that contribute to personal and social development. Running across the school curriculum, outdoor education breaks down subject…

Studied the evolution of knowledge of the rules of a children's game, and children's capacity for putting them into practice at ages ranging from four to seven. Results showed distinguishable evolutive levels of knowledge and practice through age, with the development of the capacity for putting the rules into practice before being able to…

Extends exploration of ideologies of crime in the news by examining reports about the causes of crime and commands of what to do about crime in "Time" magazine. Argues that criminal justice policy and ideology have played an important role in developments within the postwar political economy in the United States. (LKS)

Observed kindergartners and first graders playing in dyads. Children who were frequent pretenders had more predictable behavior pathways to and fewer exits from social pretend play (BSP) than children who were infrequent pretenders. Children's social interaction increased in complexity sooner after the onset of BSP than of nonpretend social…

Data from studies conducted in Holland and Israel on child-parent and child-caretaker relationships indicated that children develop attachments to nonparental caretakers. Data supported an integration model of attachment which postulates that secure attachments can compensate for insecure attachments in children's development. (BC)

Five traits common to gifted children that result in social and emotional vulnerability are described, including divergent thinking ability, excitability, sensitivity, perceptiveness, and entelechy. Specific issues that parents must face to enable their children to reach their full potential are explored. (Author/JDD)

Nine articles discuss persistent physical education practices that are not in the best interest of children, suggesting developmentally appropriate alternatives. Some topics discussed are sequence of instruction in games, developmentally appropriate dance and gymnastics, social-emotional components, and activities with questionable value. (SM)

Scores on the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment were higher for control families than for families with an alcoholic father. For preschool sons of alcoholic fathers, overall developmental quotient, motor development, and social development were less advanced than for control children. (BC)

Examined the emotional reactions of toddlers to two mishaps. Children's reactions varied along two dimensions: tension and frustration and concerned reparation. Mishaps elicited more negative emotions than did free play, and most toddlers attempted to correct the mishap. Findings indicate that children's styles of emotional response to mishaps may…

Studied the ability of measures of inhibition to unfamiliar events that are obtained in toddlerhood to predict social behaviors during an interaction with an unfamiliar peer at the age of five years. Results revealed that the role of child inhibition as a predictor of social behavior may be more evident during the initial encounter with the peer.…

Examines how allowing children to make choices can affect the quality of thinking in the school environment. Discusses teacher's role in creating a learning environment in which an exchange of viewpoints is encouraged, one that allows children to make and defend their own intellectual decisions. Offers several examples of classroom choices that…

Reviews studies examining children's nurturing behaviors and suggests ways to encourage those behaviors in early childhood settings. Discusses age, gender, and cultural differences in the nurturing behavior of young children. Recommends that teachers expose children to positive role models and suggests several children's books with characters that…

A multifaceted model to promote peer play was implemented with play groups including 3 children (ages 6-8) with autism, resulting in decreased isolate play and collateral gains in social play, and decreased stereotyped object play and collateral gains in functional object play. Advances in play behaviors were generalized and were accompanied by…

Examined the effects of peer support and parent involvement on the cognitive and social development of 63 preschool children enrolled in rural California Head Start programs. Found that parental involvement in school was predictive of gains in learning skills and classroom behavior, whereas mutual friendships predicted gains in social play and…

Examined the self-descriptions of social support networks provided by 185 African American children attending Head Start programs in Alabama. Although the networks reported by children averaged nearly 20 members, the bulk of the support from network members was provided by household residents and close kin. Girls tended to report having larger…