Examines the prevailing myth that children's well-being increases through consumerism. Addresses the scope of child-focused consumption, negative impact of child-oriented consumerism on child development, creation of an imagination-stifling environment; and the relationship between instant gratification and avoidance of challenges. Concludes that…

Discusses the dynamics of cultural change and human development, considering their similarities. Highlights experiences with Tikuna tribe members involved in an educational and cultural project for cultural development and autonomy for community members, emphasizing moments related to critically thinking about one's cultural experience to develop…

Investigated the effect of high school students' participation in children and youth centers on their commitment to serving the Hong Kong community, highlighting the psychological and political significance of their involvement. Found that participation in developmental activities was most strongly related to service role commitment. (JPB)

Considers the child's development journey from a Montessorian perspective to explain how personal development recapitulates the historical complexity of human exploration and rational discovery in mental processes that connect the individual with the environment. (JPB)

Examined consistency in prosocial dispositions, using longitudinal data from preschool through early adulthood. Found that spontaneous prosocial behavior observed in preschools predicted actual prosocial behavior, other- and self-reported prosocial behavior, self-reported sympathy, and perspective taking in childhood to early adulthood. Prosocial…

Recent findings from neuroscience have confirmed the critical importance of the early years to the development of human intelligence. However, these findings may be misunderstood or misapplied by policy makers and educators. We must preserve a balanced view of early education that recognizes the importance of the mother-child relationship and the…

Summarizes the content of 734 theses and dissertations completed in family and consumer sciences in colleges and universities in the United States in 1998. Tables present information by institution and subject matter. (Author)

Debunks the "myth of the first three years"--notions about synaptic density changes, critical periods, and "enriched" or complex environments in early brain development. Neuroscientists say synaptic densities vary over the life span. There is no linear connection between number of synapses in the brain and brainpower or intelligence. (Contains 44…

The effect of group size, staff-child ratio, training, and other characteristics of child care on child development was estimated using National Longitudinal Survey of Youth data containing measures of the home environment. Child care characteristics had little association with child development. (SK)

Studied whether patterns of developmental progression in reality monitoring were present in visual and auditory modalities and the role of cross-modal imagery in reality-monitoring tasks. Found scores revealed evidence of developmental progression in both auditory and visual source-monitoring tasks, but no effect of cross-modal imagery. (Author)

A study documented the literacy development of a preschool child with deafness. Findings indicated he went through several levels as he learned to read: focusing on pictures in books, reading familiar words in context, focusing on sign print, relating sign print to written English, and reading written English independently. (Contains references.)…

Reviews the emerging research on low-income, unmarried, and minority fathers, addressing conceptual, methodological, and policy issues. Examines recent evidence concerning patterns of fatherhood, factors supporting or prohibiting fathers' active involvement with their children, and the impact of paternal involvement on children's development.…

Two developmental screening tests were applied to 73 children, aged 1 month-6.7 years, in Sioux Falls and the Cheyenne River Reservation (South Dakota). There were no racial differences; compared to urban children, rural reservation children of any race were more likely to pass the Child Development Review and to fail the Denver II Developmental…

Discusses the goal of Montessori education to develop environments for children that support their evolution as human beings. Proposes social, moral, cognitive, and emotional developmental outcomes for preschoolers, elementary children, and adolescents. (JPB)

Reports findings of research into the conduct of in-depth assessments of families by social workers in child protection cases in Britain. Concludes that children are only partially represented in the assessments and that much of what is learned about them is mediated by adult perspectives and actions. (Author)