Argues that understanding of five major dimensions of normal child development can be useful for those who work with special children: child development theories, norms, research models, intervention models, and communication techniques. (RH)

Researchers analyzed the responses of second-, fourth-, and sixth-grade students who read three fables, and traced the relationship between grade level and stage of moral development. The children reflected different stages of moral development. The use of fables to elicit responses to moral questions is discussed. (PP)

Examines the connections between children's writing and their earlier developed form of graphic symbolism--drawing--and explores research on early writing development. Considers the range of contexts for drawing and writing presented in the classroom. (HTH)

The speech of a five year old boy who suffered a profound hearing loss following meningitis was sampled at two week intervals for nine months. It was speculated that phonetic processes such as diphthongization, syllabification, and prolonged duration may be strategies for enhancing feedback during speech. (Author)

Nine first-grade, nine second-grade, and eight third-grade children of migrant farm workers provided the data for a descriptive study of writing development in a bilingual program. (FL)

A slide-tape series developed for introduction of developmental and learning theories in freshman dental curriculum is described. Theories of social-emotional development, cognitive development, and theories of conditioning and observational learning are included. (MSE)

Children referred for psychological evaluations of completed the Bender-Gestalt and then reproduced designs from memory. Numbers of designs recalled increased with age and Performance Intelligence Quotient. The importance of developmental level in evaluation and establishment of cut-off recall scores for designs were discussed. (Author/RD)

Sex role development is discussed, beginning with processes through which children adopt sexual identity and related behaviors. The growth of androgyny (measured by the Bem Sex Role Inventory) in adult males and females is documented, and changes in the sex role behavior of men and women over 50 are described. (PP)

Studies a test based on coded data from spontaneous behavior of children (two-seven years) presented with the Lock Box. Scales were derived measuring psychomotor competence, organization of exploration, and aimlessness. The test was administered to normal and retarded children, with the retarded's responses significantly poorer on all scales.…

Examined the stability of depressive symptoms in children as measured by peer, self, and teacher ratings over a six-month period. The three measures of depression were significantly correlated over the six-month period. Depressive symptoms in children, as measured by peer nominations, were shown to be quite stable. (Author)

Presents data supporting the belief that reading stories to children is particularly beneficial and explains that hearing stories read aloud familiarizes children with the language of books and with the characteristic narrative structures they will meet in school. (JL)

Outlines Epstein's theory of age-related brain growth spurts (phrenoblysis) and suggests ways that art educators might optimize learning during the growth spurt years and the intervening plateaus. (SJL)

The Learning about Learning organization attempts to help children find and use their personal style of learning. Through creative arts activities, self-understanding and creative problem solving are fostered, and the relevance of arts skills to all areas of the curriculum and to daily living is demonstrated. (SK)

Examines the sociopolitical circumstances surrounding the formulation, passage in Congress, and presidential veto of the Comprehensive Child Development Act of 1971 (S.1512). Argues that policy is often influenced by several issues that motivate political action; in the case of child care legislation, children are only one factor among many.…

Describes positive response to a parent support and assistance program in a private pediatric office. Discusses other positive offshoots of the program, including identification of underlying marital and/or family problems of parents seeking advice about their children's behaviors. (Author)