These magazine-sized booklets, one in English, one in Spanish, are in cartoon format and designed to be used by people with limited literacy in English or Spanish. The book explains that a 1- or 2-year old breastfed baby is comforted by breastfeeding, breast milk continues to have nutritional value (even if the mother becomes pregnant), and that…

This study investigated 2-year-olds' understanding of others' intentions in a social learning context. After seeing a demonstration of how to open a box, children in two "No Prior Intention" conditions were less likely than those in "Prior Intention" conditions to open the box themselves when the adult unsuccessfully tried to open it. Results…

Used new test to determine whether 24-month olds interpret novel words in accordance with Mutual Exclusivity Bias. Found that when asked to select exemplars of a familiar noun, they avoided objects from previously read story in which novel nouns were used as atypical exemplars of familiar noun. When pronouns and proper names replaced novel nouns,…

Two observations, one of a toddler mastering a skill and one of a group of children playing, show how imitation and variation are interwoven in the strategies for learning used by children. Imitation is an entrance into learning, and variation gives insight into the cognitive world of young children. (SLD)

Two-year-olds discriminated two original training stimuli nearly perfectly, thereby showing that some form of controlling stimulus-response relation had been established. Most children's generalization gradients had little or no slope. Results are not consistent with earlier generalization data from young children. (RH)

Examination of the relationship between linguistic forms and the functions they serve in one- to two-year-olds' (N=6) early talk about agentivity and control found that the subjects systematically employed different self reference forms to mark distinct perspectives on agency. 34 references. (Author/CB)

The ability of three-year-old children to deceive was examined in order to determine whether they were able to hide their emotional expression intentionally. Results indicated that very young children have begun the process of learning how to mask their emotional expressions and support the role of socialization in this process. (RH)

Three studies examined children's learning of second labels for objects. Found that, at 24 months, subjects learned both labels equally well but had difficulty with the second label if a third word was introduced. Results suggest that, from six months on, mutual exclusivity helps children interpret novel words. (WP)

Ten toddlers produced tokens of phonologically individualized words over 12 experimental sessions. Productions in later sessions were significantly shorter in vowel and overall duration than in the early sessions. Familiarity seemed to influence duration of early productions of novel words, and these findings are discussed as evidence of…

Describes investigation examining relationship of parental discipline to child distress. Suggests punishment was more effective in delaying future disobedience when toddlers' distress was high than when low or moderate and reasoning and punishment-reasoning combination were most effective at moderate level of toddler distress. Recommends firm…

Children used more complex forms of symbolic play when they played with their mothers than when they were engaged in solitary play. The role of active partnership in symbolic play development is discussed. (RH)

Examined the behavior of 8.5-month-old crawling infants and 14-month-old walking toddlers in ascending and descending sloping walkways. Both groups overestimated their ability to ascend slopes. Toddlers hesitated most before descending 10 and 20 degree slopes, whereas infants hesitated most before descending 30 and 40 degree slopes. (MDM)

Children at 12, 18, 24, and 30 months of age were observed in same-age, same-sex dyads while they attempted to solve a simple cooperation problem. Each child was given an elicited imitation task that was used to index decentration. Although no dyad of 12 month olds could cooperate, 24 and 30 month olds could coordinate behavior quickly and…

Notes that Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments of 1986, which required that states provide comprehensive family-based programs for at-risk children (ages 0-3) and their families, has opened many professional opportunities for social workers. Contends that infant mental health constitutes practice perspective for social workers who apply…

Notes that children aged three years and younger have emotional responses to death of someone they have known. Cites theories and research indicating that children's individual characteristics, developmental stage, and environmental/familial experiences must be considered to understand their grief. Addresses possibilities for age-appropriate,…