Demonstrated that children enrolled in therapeutic day treatment programs made developmental gains but that not all children benefited equally. Indicates the need for social workers to evaluate treatment programs critically and to use the evaluation results to modify ongoing treatment and to facilitate placement decisions. (Author/KS)

Describes a prosocial learning environment for small groups of four-year-olds at a university laboratory nursery school. Uses case study approach to support conclusion prosocial behavior is easily acquired by, if not natural to, children. Includes record of four actual behavior sequences classified as conflict, chaos, defiance, and isolation. (NB)

Reviews recent research studies about child development and child care, examining how an understanding of the former can improve the latter. Outlines what is needed for a sense of being personally cared for, focusing on these themes: bodily comfort, sensitivity to personal differences, rhythmatic interactions, predictability, dependability,…

Discusses the interpersonal and organizational underpinnings of group living and residential child care, with group living perceived as an arena for children to practice life's demands. Argues that individual development and change proceed through interpersonal experience and the context in which they occur. (KH)

Discusses research results that demonstrate that nonlinguistic symbolic deficits of language-impaired children may actually reflect resource allocation constraints and cross-modality deficits. Discusses implications of studies that contrast symbolic action development in normally developing children with that in children with specific language…

Methodological flaws have spoiled the literature that attempts to link maltreatment to juvenile delinquency. This article presents improved definitions and measuring procedures for maltreatment and delinquency. The empirical findings show that certain types of child abuse and neglect are related to delinquency but that other types of maltreatment…

Good teachers are treasures, but they need rewards and small classes. They cannot instruct others in self-esteem if they feel like losers. If the teaching profession is scorned and the school administration offers no support, the teacher can be only poison in the classroom. (MLW)

Examines the fallacies about the nature of abilities and learning and about the interaction between sense modalities which follow from the dichotomy in relation to explanations of spatial development in the blind. Suggests that interactions between cognitive and perceptual factors need to be considered to explain more adequately effects of sensory…

The study examined cognitive and emotional aspects of development in four infants treated from 10 to 52 months in a reverse isolation environment because of congenital severe combined immunodeficiency disease. Case material is discussed with reference to severe disruption of oral feeding experience, quality of parental involvement, and sensory…

Drawing on longitudinal followups of Head Start children, cross-cultural data from Denmark, and studies of gifted and talented persons, this article advises parents that out-of-home care need not be harmful to their children. However, a high-pressure academic program might have long-lasting negative effects. Cites 14 references. (MLH)

In 1981, the Missouri State Department of Education hired the authors to design a model parent education program to enrich children's learning experiences during the first three years. The program, whose availabilty is now mandatory in Missouri, grew out of the authors' research with above average preschoolers and other early childhood studies.…

Based on a 1983 presentation, this article characterizes the nature of play and delineates its fundamental functions. Relates an experiment showing how free play aided problem solving more than structured lessons in young children. Concludes with suggestions for facilitating play to aid intellectual growth. (JDH)

Relates six play-based teaching techniques used in an experimental Soviet primary school. Reviews the theoretical foundations of this approach, with particular emphasis on psychology. (JDH)

Reviews theoretical literature on the use of play in education. Notes the lack of consensus regarding the usefulness of play, including "activity methods" and games, but goes on to advocate a central role for a "pedagogy of play" in the modern school. Concludes by considering the need for teacher training. (JDH)

Discusses the role of the computer in the classroom and the Piagetian view of knowledge acquisition. Points out the critical role the computer can play through the development of its interactive abilities in the construction of student knowledge. (MD)