Some studies of young children's understanding of false belief have generated controversy, even to the extent that others' failure to replicate these studies was viewed as problematic. A Vygotskian perspective on internalization enables researchers to reverse the classic developmental competence-performance distinction, and to argue that the…

This instructor's guide, which is part of the training materials used in the Child Development Associate (CDA) National Credentialing Program, outlines coursework for a 6-month CDA seminar. The guide begins by describing the background, purpose, and curriculum design of the CDA Professional Preparation Program. An overview of the field experiences…

In recent years there has been a rapid growth of interest in the sociological study of childhood. Drawing on a large body of contemporary sociological and anthropological research, this book develops key links between the study of childhood and social theory, exploring its historical, political, and cultural dimensions. Through a consideration of…

This paper discusses a theory of the formation of social stereotyping and prejudice in children. This intergroup-developmental theory of prejudice has three primary goals: to account for the development of stereotyping and prejudice across multiple domains; to provide a developmental account of social stereotyping, outlining how developmental…

Originally written for students at St. Thomas' Hospital in London, this guide to child development offers an overview of child development for parents, teachers, and all adults concerned with raising children. Many of the book's ideas come from direct work with children and draw on Rudolf Steiner's approach to child development. The book's…

Private speech is speech overtly directed to a young child's self and not directly spoken to another listener. Private speech develops differently during fantasy play than constructive play. This study examined age differences in the amount of fantasy play in the preschool classroom and in the amount and type of private speech that occurs during…

This brief paper offers guidelines on recognizing giftedness in young children based on a study of the developmental characteristics of 77 gifted and average children as reported in parent questionnaires. The questionnaire asked parents to describe their children's development during the first 36 months. Major findings indicated that: parents of…

This collection of resources was compiled by the Birth to Kindergarten students of Lenoir-Rhyne College (North Carolina) to provide the early childhood professional--whether a child care center director, early interventionist, teacher, family resource counselor, or program consultant--with ready, easy to use information to share with parents.…

This literature review on the importance of play in the development of children focuses on play differences of exceptional children, methods of observing and assessing play, play interventions, the use of toys and playthings, the role of nonhandicapped peers in play, the physical environment for play, and the role of adults. The paper concludes…

In recent years there have been an extraordinary number of proposals for comprehensive and intensive changes in school structure, finance, and administration, one indication that this is a time of unprecedent change for schools. One of the forces driving this intense focus on school change is the growing national concern about youth issues and…

A practicum was designed to increase the writing opportunities of 37 prekindergarten children in three classes through staff development. Formal and informal surveys of prekindergarten teachers confirmed the need for more information on child development, the development of the writing process, and prekindergarten whole language. A series of…

This study was conducted to learn more about the moral development of Hawaiian children and adolescents and to assess if grade level (grade 5, 7, 9, or 11) or gender were related to the children's reported level of self-esteem. Eighty Hawaiian children and adolescents from low-to middle-income families were interviewed individually, asked to solve…

A review of the literature on educational outcomes for children of early childhood education can provide relevant information for policymakers. Research suggests that the quality of programs offered in early childhood centers affects the extent to which children experience education. On the basis of the studies, the main characteristics of low…

This paper reviews human development theories that could be utilized in the study of museums as well as theories or approaches to curiosity that appear to be of significant interest for museum exhibit designers and educators. An overview of each theory is followed by a general evaluation of the theory and research that appears relevant. The…

The Comprehensive Child Development Act of 1988 provided for the establishment of Comprehensive Child Development Program (CCDP) projects to be administered by the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF). A total of 24 CCDP projects were funded through 1990. The CCDP works with the family as a unit and integrates services across…