A study investigated the motor development in 99 Australian children (ages 10-16) with Down syndrome. Results showed that the children's motor proficiency continued to progress into adolescence and that there were a wide range of inter- and intra-individual differences in their skill levels and rates of progress. (Author/CR)

Examined the relationship between play and learning by exploring contrasts between the theories of Piaget and Vygotsky and examining data from a study of preschool teachers' theories of play. At the outset, these theories revealed a predominantly Piagetian, developmental orientation but changed toward a more social-constructivist orientation.…

Analyzed relationships between the quality of parental attachment and preschool children's behavioral characteristics, including social skills, productivity, behavior problems, neurosis, anxiety and self-evaluation. Found a positive relationship between parental attachment and the child's adaptation, but failed to confirm the hypothesis regarding…

Comments on the findings of study of maternal input into children's category knowledge in this monograph. Discusses such aspects of maternal input as the child's role in guiding the parent's language, conceptual development, ways of imparting information about category types, parental speech patterns and how they help children learn optimally, and…

Studied mothers' behavior toward their infants with disorganized (type D) attachment strategies. Found that mothers whose infants are classified disorganized exhibit an elevated level of atypical maternal behaviors in the Strange Situation test. Mothers of type D Forced Insecure infants showed more negative-intrusive behaviors and role confusion…

Reviews the literature on the role that black mothers play in the development of manhood in their sons. Concludes that blaming single black mothers as an autonomous variable responsible for the conditions facing black males is inappropriate. (SM)

This article compares and contrasts the two major psycholinguistic philosophies of speech development, the traditional and the phonological approaches. The traditional approach is seen as most useful for children whose speech is only mildly impaired or who need oral sensorimotor stimulation. For severely unintelligible speech, the phonological…

Examined whether maternal behavior at Time 1 would be associated with sibling interaction at Time 2, and whether the quality of sibling interactions would be associated. Found that both mothers and children influenced the quality of sibling relationships over time. (SD)

Pilot-tested a developmentally appropriate cancer prevention education curriculum for grades K-6, assessing its feasibility and acceptance. Pretesting and posttesting of students who participated in the program indicated that students made significant gains in conceptual understanding for cancer causality and prevention. They also made significant…

Delineates the myths, mysteries, and distortions surrounding rites of passage for African American youth and investigates the educational implications of these rites. The initiation process is examined, and the importance of carefully resurrecting these rites of passage to the socialization of African American youth is discussed. (GR)

Assessed whether performances of 5- and 6-year olds in arithmetic tests can be predicted from their performances in neuropsychological tests. Participants completed neuropsychological, drawing, and arithmetic tests at 5 and 6 years of age. Findings at older age were correctly assumed by conclusions of first evaluation. (LBT)

Draws on ethnographic research to examine the effect of unsuitable housing for the long-term capacity of children to break out of poverty. Presents case studies of three young children (4 to 9 years old) to clarify the connections between housing, parental behavior and the children's sense of identity, trust, autonomy, competence and general…

Conducted a textual analysis of Darwin's diary version of his observations of his oldest child and the published paper based on these observations to compare the degree to which Darwin identified himself in the two as detached observer or as embodied participant. Found that the embodied, relational vision evident in the diary version was absent…

Presents five guidelines for school social workers to be used for planning interventions with children and adolescents diagnosed with conduct disorders. These guidelines are based on a synthesis of child development research and suggest that attention to the biological makeup of students as well as the design of multimodal and multisystemic…

Interaction with animals has important implications for child development in the areas of social growth and communication. Although pets are common in classrooms, research on educational benefits is scarce. A survey shows that classroom animals are often studied directly and used as prompts for creative activities. (Contains 13 references.) (MLH)