This information sheet summarizes findings from two reports: "Staffing Patterns and Team Models in Infancy Programs" by Jeanette McCollum and Mary-alayne Hughes, and "Early Intervention Team Approaches: The Transdisciplinary Model" by Geneva Woodruff and Mary McGonigel. The digest outlines the provisions of the Education of the…

The effects of child gender and teacher experience on the intrusions of teachers into young children's play were studied. A classroom of 15 children (mean age 34 months), which was supervised by a lead teacher, graduate assistants, and undergraduate student teachers, was observed. Teacher intrusions into the children's play were coded as requests,…

Development of toddlers' combinatorial skills was examined in the domains of object manipulation, symbolic play, motor imitation, language, and peer interaction. Additionally, task demands that might produce variations in age-related patterns within or between domains were examined. Data were collected in free play sessions and during structured…

To determine the extent to which toddlers are aware of their friends' qualities, mothers of two groups of toddler preschoolers were interviewed about which of her child's classmates is talked about at home and what her child typically says about his or her peers. The children had been observed for several months prior to the interviews to identify…

The incidence and nature of depressed and nondepressed mothers' unpremeditated "teaching" behaviors was investigated during 8-minute periods of videotaped interactions between each mother and her toddler and a suitcase full of toys. Diagnosed mothers had experienced depressive episodes during their child's lifetime. Nondepressed mothers…

Preschoolers' expression of various emotions and overall social-emotional competency may be related to mothers' emotional responsivemness to children's emotions. This research investigated, through extended naturalistic observation, (1) how maternal emotion displays differ according to antecedent child emotion (happy, sad, angry, or afraid) and…

Stability of temperament over successive ages in the first 2 years was evaluated for 109 full-term and 81 preterm infants who were assessed at 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months of age. At each age subjects were engaged in a series of age-appropriate vignettes in the laboratory; experimenters used a structured sequence of activities. Composite ratings…

Statistical analyses of the incidence of "what"-questions requiring variably complex responses are presented. The responses were asked of a bilingual child by different sets of caretakers in English and German over a one-year period starting at age 16 months. Results show that the caretakers' questions are geared first toward the child's…

This ERIC Digest discusses children's play and its relationship to developmental growth from infancy to middle childhood. Discussion focuses on: (1) sensorimotor play in which infants and toddlers experiment with bodily sensation, motor movements, objects, and people; (2) pretend play in which children carry out action plans, take on roles, and…

Four curriculum modules provide instruction on aspects of infant and toddler child care services. Contents concern budgeting, center characteristics, curriculum planning, and environmental design for infant and toddler programs. The color-coded modules list objectives and resources, and provide information and assignment sheets, sample forms and…

This practicum involved the design and construction of an outdoor playground for infants and toddlers. The primary goal was to design and construct a playground scaled to the size and developmental needs of infants and toddlers. The second goal was to evaluate the overall playground in terms of contents, maintenance and usage. The third goal was…

Part of an 18-month longitudinal investigation of mother-child language-teaching interactions, this study describes changes in mothers' use of elicting strategies over time as their children's language became more complex. The focus was the adjustments mothers make to fit their behavior to their child's linguistic skills and development. Samples…

This research and demonstration project involved the establishment of a demonstration Nursery Center to provide for the daytime care of infants and toddlers in groups and for the evaluation of this experience. A descriptive account is given of the founding of the center and of its operation over a three-year period. Finding housing and suitable…

The predictive relation between neonatal behavior and temperament at 24 months was examined for 67 infants selected from the full socioeconomic status (SES) distribution. Initial ratings were made when the infants were one to four days old. Irritable neonates were rated as more upset, less attentive to stimuli, and less responsive to the staff at…

Three-year-old children and their families were observed during a dinner time situation in which all family members were present. Study results suggest how the mealtime experience, filled with information concerning sex-role behavior, social manners and habits, and interpersonal relations between parents and children, is a central multifaceted…