Four experiments investigated children's ability to notice and remember events in which the acquisition of factual information occurs. Results indicated that children tend to report they have known newly learned information for a long time, suggesting that children have some understanding of knowledge acquisition, but not at the level of adults.…

Examined the nature of perceptual classification in children and young adults. Found that most children attend selectively to one stimulus dimension when making perceptual classification judgments. Suggests that this developmental trend does not appear to be a holistic-to-analytic shift but rather a trend toward greater consistency in following a…

Tested on preschoolers a goal-confidence model for older children that predicts achievement behavior during failure. Found that individual differences in achievement goals emerge very early. Children appeared to have developed a mechanism for selecting learning opportunities prior to formal school experience. (AA)

Analysis of 51 studies of developmental effects of prenatal exposure to alcohol in children from birth to 72 months found that, although adverse outcomes were found within each domain, age grouping, and exposure category, they comprised fewer than 50% of all outcomes measured. Most adverse outcomes were found in the neurobehavioral domain with…

The John Tracy Clinic (California) offers developmentally sequenced correspondence courses in English and Spanish for parents of children with hearing impairments. The objective of the free courses, which cover child development and communication skills from birth through five years, is to empower parents by offering them hope, guidance, and…

Illustrates the important role that fathers play in their infants' social and emotional development. Notes that not only are infants more socially responsive when they are securely attached to both mother and father but such a secure attachment to the father can help to prevent harmful consequences of insecure attachments. (HTH)

Theorizing on diversity in child development has shown three distinguishable phases, and there are signs that a fourth phase may be emerging, resting on the principle of fundamental heterogeneity in human development. Issues related to classroom applications of such an approach, dealing with culture and content, are discussed. (SLD)

Comparison of 72 middle and 72 low socioeconomic status (SES) families of infants with developmental disabilities, on measures of maternal stress and infant development, found that regression analyses predicted 81% of the variance in later developmental level from initial Bayley Mental Age, initial Mental Development Index, SES, initial maternal…

Many children come to school without the essential loving backgrounds they need to learn effectively. Children's experiences in the first months and years of life determine how they will later manage their lives and how readily they will use opportunities for formal learning. Meeting infants' and toddlers' needs--providing a "heart…

Delineates the current consensus regarding the nature and the development of intellectual ability. Examines when one would expect general abilities to moderate the relationship among domain-specific and other processes. Reviews recent studies in which general abilities were used as independent variables or covariates. Suggests that generally,…

A randomized clinical trial procedure was used at eight program sites to determine the impact of the Infant Health and Development Program (IHDP), a parental education and support and child care program, on the home environment of 985 infants. Differences favoring intervention were apparent at three years, suggesting favorable program impact. (SLD)

Critiques the current concept of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as it applies to primary school boys and girls. The article defines ADHD, presents a model of developmental contextualization, and shows ways in which theory can overcome limitations in current conceptualizations of ADHD and guide future pedagogy and research. (GR)

The use of creative dramatics in the library media center allows children to bring characters and stories to life, and encourages verbalization, experimentation, improvisation, and problem solving. Dramatic play activities are presented for grades two through six. (Author/AEF)

Latent growth curve analysis was used to study individual differences in initial status and growth rates of antisocial behavior, delinquent peer association, and unsupervised wandering during the transition to early adolescence for 206 European American boys. Findings are discussed in terms of the trait-confluence model for peer influence. (SLD)

The realities of child development defy efforts to categorize children's abilities and attainments within the conventional graded structure. Pupil readiness varies, and children progress in all subjects at different rates. The development of multiage or cross-age groupings, sometimes coordinated with youngsters in tutoring programs, has produced…