Discusses the importance of developing a child's relationship with nature in Montessori education. Surveys natural outdoor activities for the toddler and 3- to 6-year- old child, including addressing the planet's functions and destiny through maps, storytelling, and going out, and for young adolescents, living on the land. (JPB)

Discusses the meaning of discipline and the absence of coercion within a Montessori framework, noting the importance of social skills for the development of creativity. Highlights aspects of teaching methodology for elementary and high schools. (JPB)

Investigated the social origins of black physicians from poor, rural, southern communities, examining contextual factors that helped explain their great academic and professional success as young adults. Argues that it was the community that identified and nurtured these gifted children, thus making it possible for them to attend college and…

A study involving 971 children (ages 2 weeks to 8 years) and one of their parents illustrates the validity and accuracy of a new developmental measure called Parents' Evaluations of Developmental Status (PEDS). PEDS helps professionals elicit and interpret parents' concerns about their children's behavior and development and encourages…

Considers solutions that families often use to meet their needs for after-school care: self-care and after-school programs. Describes: (1) the incidence of these care arrangements; (2) familial, child, and community factors related to their use; and (3) the conditions under which these arrangements either support or undermine child development.…

Infant imitation is considered a significant component of social, cognitive, and language development. Observation of 20 infants and their mothers in 2 naturalistic settings at 4 separate ages revealed dyads' imitation and matching in vocal, verbal and action behaviors. Verbal matching increased over the second year, suggesting relation of dyads'…

Reviews selected literature on child development about children's symbol use in performance of spatial and mathematical tasks. Describes the musical development of a child over a period of 16 months and shows how principles of symbol use from outside music can guide interpretations of children's symbol acquisition. (CMK)

This article reviews the developmental profile of a child with autism during the first 3 years of life. Analysis of home videos showed how the child appeared to make progress up to 12 months followed by decreases in social interaction, communication, and language. Discussion suggests that this particular profile is one of the possible pathways…

Shows how a university course in human growth and learning can provide multiple opportunities to explore the concept of community for preservice teachers. Provides a rationale for building community and discusses students' concerns with behavior management and school violence. Presents strategies that build communities, including demonstrating the…

Evaluates 64 children and their primary caregivers who are living in poverty. Social support was not found to moderate the relationship between stress and child outcome. However, social support was found to be one possible mediator of the child's reported stress on their self-esteem. According to the mediating model, enhancing children's social…

Explored the impact of household environment and childhood sexual abuse (CSA) on psychosocial development. Data on low-income, urban CSA victims, and non-CSA women indicated that household conditions indicative of parental dysfunction, antisocial behavior, and instability set the stage for CSA by interfering with parental protection. Victims'…

Investigates the relationship between therapists' perceived knowledge level in the area of child development and their actual knowledge level, as measured by an assessment instrument developed to measure child development knowledge within a therapeutic setting. Results revealed respondents felt they were knowledgeable in the area of child…

Tested in two studies 4- to 7-year-olds' face recognition by manipulating the faces' configural and featural information. Found that even with only a single 5-second exposure, most children could use configural and featural cues to make identity judgments. Repeated exposure and feedback improved others' performance. Even proficient memories were…

At camp, children learn values and skills that are seldom included in school curricula. The community-based environment of camps is conducive to learning self-assurance, community respect, and healthy competition, and to understanding diversity. Exposure to Nature promotes an infectious enthusiasm for the wilderness and for learning outdoor…

Explores current theories of emotional development in order to identify the assumptions that could explain the strong antagonism toward early nonbasic emotions. Draws on the contrasting and polarity of viewpoints to examine the logical implications of these viewpoints for the very possibility of early nonbasic emotions and their reciprocal…