This report discusses the outcomes of a study that examined 216 comparably aged children and adolescents (ages 2-18) with fragile X or autism to determine whether longitudinal change in cognitive ability and adaptive behavior was similar in the two groups. Results found decreases in Intelligence Quotient scores in young children with fragile X as…

Arguing that evolution designed us to both teach and learn, this book explains how, and how much, babies and young children know and learn, and how much parents naturally teach them. The chapters are: (1) "Ancient Questions and a Young Science," including the concept of brain as computer, and the developmental science of Piaget and…

Self-regulation of behavior generally refers to controlled, cognitive monitoring of the actions and steps required to obtain a goal, or to bring about a desired response from the environment. Age-related changes in self-regulation as well as individual differences at a given age or developmental stage play fundamental roles in shaping children's…

The first 5 years of a child's life are a time of tremendous physical, emotional, social, and cognitive growth. Noting that research shows that children are more likely to succeed in learning when their families actively support them, this booklet is intended for families and caregivers who want to help their preschool children learn and develop…

To help teachers understand the cognitive development that occurs as children learn to read, the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory (SEDL) has created The Cognitive Foundations of Learning to Read: A Framework. It describes the various cognitive domains that research has shown to be necessary for reading acquisition, and also illustrates…

This paper presents descriptive research comparing levels of cognitive and reflective development among preservice and inservice teachers. A question about the effectiveness of the state educational reform law was used to collect data identifying student reflection levels. The question was presented as a written assignment to undergraduates in an…

Noting that the process of playing with blocks supports the groundwork for learning in every area of a child's growth, this paper discusses specific uses of building blocks in the early childhood curriculum to develop a child's physical, social, emotional, artistic, language, scientific and mathematics growth. The paper outlines the contributions…

This document discusses culture, identity, and cognitive development. It focuses on acculturation of English-as-a-Second-Language learners, discussing criteria for transferring students with limited English proficiency into the mainstream and the difference between language disabilities and learning difficulties. The following forms are included:…

This article describes how the author's infant son enthusiastically played with buttons from the age of 5 months to his first birthday. The article details his play routines and how they changed over time. It draws on recent neurological research about how the brain grows to argue that this play provided the foundation for her son's cognitive and…

Civic involvement is a powerful opportunity in which young citizens can be more engaged in society. It provides young citizens with various opportunities to see themselves as contributing members to the community-at-large. Civic involvement enhances citizenship and civic engagement, allowing young citizens to develop a sense of community as an…

Discusses the reciprocal relationship between food and behavior, dealing with the subject as a two-way system; two parts of the brain are particularly involved, the hypothalamus and the cerebral cortex. (Author/JM)

Discusses evidence for a permanent, measurable effect of early restriction on the physical growth of the brain, arguing that undernutrition has been considered for too long in adult terms as a series of deficiency diseases whose main consequences can be reversed on restoration of the deficient component. (Author/JM)

Reports the results of a study in which children below the age of eleven were tested on their ability to perform several tasks of class inclusion and a task relating to the conservation of weight. (JR)

Mental ability, language development (English), language development (Spanish), and self-image changes were studied as effects of an early intervention program for preschool children. (Authors/JA)