Imitation in the speech of the child serves at least three functions in the development of linguistic competence. Imitation provides auditory feedback for phonological and morpho-syntactic accuracy, produces a model for verification and/or clarification by speakers, and "makes time" for the processing and acquisition of information. Beyond these…

In order to specify in detail the nature of the experience of "latchkey" children, 53 children left at home after school without adult supervision and 32 continuously supervised children were interviewed in a study conducted in an all-black, parochial school. Study group subjects were every latchkey child enrolled in grades one through…

THIS REPORT PRESENTS THE RESULTS OF A 5-YEAR RESEARCH PROGRAM WHICH ANALYZED MANY OF THE CORRELATES OF PEER ACCEPTANCE-REJECTION IN A SERIES OF STUDIES INVOLVING 37,913 SCHOOL CHILDREN, AGES 9 TO 12 YEARS. PEER ACCEPTANCE-REJECTION WAS INVESTIGATED THROUGH THE USE OF A PEER RATING SCALE AND A TEACHER RATING SCALE. A NUMBER OF METHODOLOGICAL…

Childhood aggression is among the most common and least transitory of childhood dysfunctions. Mother-only families have higher rates of childhood aggression than do intact, father-present homes. The effect of father presence and father absence on the aggressive behavior of family members was examined, along with the behavior patterns in families…

Data from the Social Security Administration's Retirement History Study and a supplement to the 1968 Current Population Survey are discussed in terms of the relationship between (1) family size and residence, and (2) economic and educational status. It is shown that household heads who grew up as members of large families and/or as natives of…

This brief report summarizes the findings and conclusions of studies concerning the relation between birth order and various aspects of personality and intellectual development. Major topics discussed are the relation between birth order of the child and: (1) the effects of sex and spacing between siblings on personality characteristics of the…

This paper criticizes Zajonc's confluence model of the relationship between sibling spacing and sibling intelligence. According to Zajonc, variations in the intellectual performance of individuals are accounted for in part by two features of the individual's family of orientation: (1) the number of children in that family, and (2) the spacing…

A child's peers may influence his behavior for better or for worse. By involving a child's peers in his therapy, their influence can be made to be consistently positive. By establishing tailor-made peer-therapy groups, the child psychologist will increase his therapeutic impact. Among the possible formats for involving peers in a child's treatment…

This paper discusses the nature of the infant social world. Infants develop attachments to both parents. Father-child and mother-child relationships are qualitatively different. They involve different types of experiences and have different implications for the child's personality development. The fathers' sex-differentiating behavior focuses the…

Cumulative deficit is an hypothesis concerning the cause of lower mental test scores of groups considered environmentally deprived. It presupposes a progressive decrement in test scores, relative to population norms, as a function of age. Clarification of the theoretical issues and the methodological problems involved in establishing the…

This paper discusses case studies of children psychologically disturbed by the death of parents or siblings. Illustrations of mourning facilitation were mainly gathered from 16 orphaned children, ages 3-14. Some techniques used in helping children mourn include: discussing physical details of the illness, discussing previous deaths of animals and…

Children have a variety of reactions to a sibling birth that includes disruptions in their physical and psychological functioning as well as apparent growth in these same areas. Explores the variety of factors that influence reactions to the sibling's birth and the relationship between the siblings. (BJV)

Using data from personality adjustment questionnaires, 15 regular class children were compared to their gifted program siblings and to a group placed in gifted programs along with their siblings. Results suggested that the subgroup perceived by parents as less gifted than their siblings may be more prone to personality adjustment problems.…

This paper explains and summarizes the results of a study that investigated the ways in which monozygotic (identical) and dizygotic (fraternal) twins learn. Their individual learning style elements were specifically investigated according to the Dunn and Dunn model. This paper discusses the themes, unique needs, and characteristics monozygotic…

This document consists of 10 monthly newsletter issues for 2001, in English and Spanish language versions, exploring topics related to early childhood behavior and parenting. Regularly appearing features include book recommendations, "Library Resources,""Preschoolers in the Kitchen,""Kids Crafts,""Research…