While the development of children's self-esteem is a worthwhile goal in early education, many practices designed to reach this goal may instead be encouraging narcissism. Such practices include those that direct children's attention to their own inner gratifications, or encourage children to believe their specialness is dependent on trivial…

This workbook was designed for use in conjunction with classroom instruction and the parent support group model. Its purpose is to help parents both prevent and effectively intervene in their children's unwanted behaviors, such as drug use and gang involvement. Based on the premise that children should be allowed to make choices and then be held…

This literature review defines Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE) and considers their causes, diagnoses, prevalence, and educational ramifications. Effects of alcohol during each of the trimesters of pregnancy are summarized. Specific diagnostic characteristics of FAS are listed: (1) growth deficiency, (2) a…

Play therapy can be used to help children with disabilities to develop a sense of strength and competency. Play therapy literature concerning children with disabilities is divided into two distinct approaches: (1) the "I am" attribute which deals with emotional adjustment and helps the child to develop positive self-esteem, personal competency,…

This study explored the way parents use information sources for information about their child's motor, social, and cognitive development. This study sought to identify: (1) variations in parental use of information based on the domain of the child's development for which the parent sought information; (2) the role of parent and child gender in…

Interviews with fourth graders who had not yet received systematic instruction in U.S. history revealed that these students are interested in the past, concerned about human intentionality and cause-effect relationships, and able to construct coherent narrative accounts of historical events as they understand them. However, they lack an…

This paper examines the reasons for including drama in elementary curricula; the relationship of drama to children's developmental needs; and appropriate strategies for teaching drama to young children. Reasons for teaching drama include drama's stimulation of high-level thinking and collaborative work. Drama and improvisation also require high…

The expansion of early childhood education for American Indians and Alaska Natives has reflected the trend in the larger society. While efforts are being made to improve early childhood care and education for all children, deeper issues must be considered by Native Americans. First among them is the long history of forced assimilation and…

This study examined the views of three groups of students in Kano, Nigeria concerning other nations and their peoples. The research was designed to test the hypotheses of previous researchers who have speculated that children's attitudes toward other nations can be explained by developmental theories. Specifically, the study sought to answer three…

This report contains a series of articles from Japan, New Zealand, and the U.S. dealing with child development. The articles concern: (1) a social dynamic theory of early human development and a program of research based on this theory; (2) the need for intervention and the structure of intervention for children with disabilities on the island of…

This study examined the relationship between parents' general beliefs about child development and parents' beliefs regarding their child's performing a hypothetical developmental task with ease or with difficulty. The relation of these beliefs to the children's development was also considered. These relationships were examined separately for…

The question of what schools should do about individual differences among learners is discussed with reference to the cognitive theories of Piaget. Historically, teachers were not expected to adjust to individual differences; the child who could not adapt was at fault. Around the turn of the present century, educators began to turn their attention…

This report summarizes a study conducted by the New York Family Services Project (NYFSP) of Bank Street College. The study's principal objectives were the following: (1) to document the developmental status of preschool-aged homeless children in comparison to a group of poor housed children, and the special contribution of exposure to early…

The report describes the population of children in Australia with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus, notes their needs and characteristics, reviews their school placement and social circumstances, and considers future educational services for them. Initial chapters review the literature on medical, psychoeducational, and social-family aspects of…

Parents, educators, psychologists, and linguists are concerned about the effects of bilingualism on children, particularly young children. Although it is generally agreed that the minority-language child should develop bilingual and bicultural competence, there is disagreement concerning the role the two languages should play in the child's early…