Reviews the following books: (1) "The Reading Crisis: Why Poor Children Fall Behind"; (2) "Prevention of Child Maltreatment: Developmental and Ecological Perspectives"; (3) "Attention and Information Processing in Infants and Adults: Perspectives from Human and Animal Research"; and (4) "Children's Interpersonal Trust: Sensitivity to Lying,…

This article presents a rationale for comprehensive developmental assessment for infants with cleft palates/lips and related disorders. The assessment model is based on risk factors influencing early development and on clinical research on developmental outcomes. Implications on the clinical assessment process and early intervention are discussed.…

Describes the Atlanta Children's Shelter, a day shelter for infants through five-year-olds, and for school-age children during holidays, whose families are currently living in a night shelter. Discusses how the shelter's educational program is tailored to the special needs and characteristics of homeless children. (TJQ)

Updates information provided in an earlier issue of this journal which examined the problem of drug-exposed infants. Focuses on three areas discussed in that issue: (1) the response of the courts and the legislatures to the problem; (2) the medical effects of prenatal exposure to cocaine; and (3) the impact of drug-exposed infants on the…

Investigates the verbal language experiences and early literacy learning of three prelingually, profoundly deaf preschool children across home and school contexts. Finds that, despite receptive language delay, all three children demonstrated knowledge and understanding of written language that were developmentally appropriate. Supports the theory…

The National PTA President writes about the PTA's desire for parents to cherish their children, noting the importance of the early years in developing emotionally and physically strong children. The article introduces the National PTA book, "Growing Up Confident," which presents practical ideas on good parenting. (SM)

The article discusses self-esteem as the key to parenting a successful, happy child. It notes ways parents can help foster self-esteem starting at a very early age. Ten suggestions for building a child's self-esteem, developed by the National PTA, are listed. (SM)

Discusses readiness for kindergarten, noting all children enter kindergarten at different developmental stages. The article examines common characteristics of kindergarten children and appropriate educational goals. It also makes recommendations to help parents enrich their children's experiences before and during kindergarten. (SM)

This article examines the descriptive influences of reading and learning disorders on personality development. It discusses the effects of biologic vulnerabilities and environmental interaction, the variant patterns of defense and symptom development at various life stages, and evidence that early development failures are key elements in later…

The role that talk plays in socialization, social development, and possibly cognitive development is described. Research on talk is categorized as follows: studies that consider talk as a tool for investigation; studies that focus on development of grammar or language acquisition; and studies that fall between those extremes. (LB)

Six experiments involving 279 2- to 5-year-old children, 52 undergraduates, and 16 adults examined the interaction of perception and language in the development of magnitude marking of size, loudness, and achromatic color. Results suggest converging interactions between perception and language for size and loudness and antagonistic interactions…

This article introduces four papers (and responses to them) originally given at an April 1990 conference on the identification and treatment of dyslexia. Noted is the lack of consensus on what dyslexia is, how the condition comes to be, and what the nature of educational intervention ought to be, though developmental views are seen to predominate.…

This paper highlights the need for research on the motor, cognitive, and psychological development of children with congenital limb deficiencies. Issues reviewed include optimal age for prosthesis fitting, training procedures, prosthesis usage, cognitive deficits, and vulnerability to psychosocial problems. (Author/DB)

Responds to Maccoby's and Hinde's commentaries on the Belsky, et al. article in this issue. Highlights several points of concurrence and disagreement. Draws attention to the potential benefits of asking questions about proximal and ultimate causation simultaneously and, thus, the need for child developmentalists to think about both the how and why…

This survey of 232 parents of developmentally delayed or typical preschool children found that parent attitudes were favorable toward mainstreaming, regardless of their child's placement in a mainstreamed or segregated program. Compared to parents of segregated children, parents of mainstreamed children indicated stronger opinions about the…