This study examined children's play interaction styles with unfamiliar peers; used mother-child and father-child dyadic qualities independently to predict children's social behavior; determined the relationship between children's individual behaviors and peer dyadic characteristics; and compared mother-child and father-child interactions on both…

This study investigated the social cognitive abilities, social adjustment, and self-esteem of maltreated preschoolers and those at risk for abuse. Subjects were 12 maltreated children, 22 children at risk for abuse, and 22 control children. Children completed the Social Problem Solving Test--Revised, a test of Attributed Intentions and Aggressive…

The incidence of multiple births has increased dramatically in the past two decades. Given this trend, it seems reasonable to assume that many teachers will have twins and other multiple siblings in their classes at some point in their classroom careers. This Digest offers some pointers for educators facing the challenges of educating multiples.…

This study examines the relationship between the typical activities and social involvement young children experience in Singapore day care centers and the children's language development. Cognitive, physical and domestic activities and social involvement were observed in 16 day care centers and recorded using the Target Child Method of…

Since the early 1980s researchers have increasingly turned to family systems theory and stress and coping theory to conceptualize the relationship between parental adjustment and children's adaptive process. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of maternal coping strategies upon the adaptive processes of children. That is, how…

"Data Trends" reports present summaries of research on mental health services for children and adolescents and their families. The article summarized in this "Data Trends" presents findings from research examining the influence of collective socialization, concentration of disadvantage, and prevalence of crime on conduct…

Play is a natural activity for children that provides opportunities to learn and grow physically, mentally, and socially. These two booklets offer toy selection advice from the government agency charged with protecting the public against unreasonable risks of injury associated with consumer products. The first booklet outlines toy choices for: (1)…

Since 1995, community schools in the Netherlands have provided multiple interventions to improve student behavior and socioemotional functioning, improve the home educational environment, decrease risk behavior, decrease educational and physical disadvantages, and create opportunities for all children in a neighborhood. This study examined the…

This handbook gives step-by-step instruction on using play therapy with children in school and private practice settings. The second edition builds on the fundamental instruction of the first edition and supplies play therapists with the necessary tools to strengthen therapeutic work with children-- especially those with problematic attitudes--…

The central objective of this study was to draw interdependent relationships between preschoolers' social functioning and their modes of social thought. Assessment of 67 four-year-olds was done through systematic observations of social behavior, including social participation, type of play, and affective involvement in the preschool setting, as…

The rapid development of special classes for middle-range, severely retarded, or trainable children has brought into sharp focus a number of relatively new instructional problems. What educational aptitudes do these children possess and what should be the objectives and procedures in teaching them? On the basis of the quantitative and experimental…

Focuses on the issue of change in preschool discourse and argues that changes are related to the emergence of new rationales for governing the child. Specifically describes a period of transition (1920-1940) in the history of the Swedish preschool when Friedrich Froebel's discourse on the child became replaced by developmental psychology. (SD)

Argues that parents and educators must strive to develop true independence within their children. Argues that independence is achieved by encouraging a strong will in children which enables them to fully develop their personality and arms them with the skills to make decisions, create positive self-esteem, and be responsible and sympathetic…

Tested the basic hypothesis that failure experiences at school increase the likelihood of aversive parent-child interaction after school. Subjects were 254 elementary school students. Found that children who rated more academic failure events at school described parents as more disapproving after school, but this effect was only partially mediated…

Identified groups of economically disadvantaged children showing high externalizing behavior in first grade that persisted (persistent) or decreased (improver) in third grade, or low first- grade levels that were stable (unproblematic) or increased (new problem) in third grade. Found that verbal ability, behavioral impulsivity, parent…