Overviews the nature of self-esteem and describes various dimensions of self-esteem, including gaining a sense of competency and experiencing acceptance by others. Strategies for camps include establishing goals for camper achievement, creating developmentally appropriate camp activities, and training staff with the necessary skills for enhancing…

Notes that the location of any child care center is a key factor in its success. Provides four major objectives to consider when siting a center: (1) the center as a part of the community; (2) access and visibility; (3) desirable and undesirable surroundings; and (4) characteristics of the site itself. (SD)

Explores the relationship between early childhood teachers' adult gender role beliefs and their attitudes about children's gender role behavior. Responses from 103 (mostly women) teachers expressed some openness to children exploring gender roles, and felt more comfortable with girls rather than boys in this exploration. When teachers did have…

Examines the extent of mothers' and fathers' involvement in children's play, and stylistic variations in that play. Results from 35 preschool children from multiethnic families reveal boys played differently than girls and parental involvement was also different. Parent's different interactions with sons' versus daughters' playing shows that…

This book reports on the extensive longitudinal study of children's language development by B. Hart and T. Risley. Their detailed recording of children's language experience over the first three years of life provides a valuable example of assessing environmental quality. Implications for improving day care and academic achievement are discussed.…

Examines, based on research from southern Africa, Northern Ireland, the Middle East, and the United States, the ways in which community violence affects children, their families, and communities. It reviews the literature, highlights recurring themes, and discusses the implications of this research for school and community intervention in the…

Argues that children develop--at home, in school, and in the community--a repertoire of attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that prepare them to become peaceful, cooperative, caring adults. Provides examples of instruction in caring through family life, household activities, classroom curriculum, the classroom environment, instructional techniques,…

Reviews "Levels of Cognitive Development," which presents a theory of cognitive development integrating discrimination- learning research with understanding of higher cognitive processes. Argues that strengths include its presentation of systematic research and providing continuity between past and present models. Weaknesses include…

The Child Development Review (CDR) combines parents' and pediatricians' observations to monitor the development and adjustment of infants and young children. The method includes a questionnaire completed by parents, systematic professional observation, and pediatrician-parent discussion. Research on the CDR in well-child care, a preschool…

Explores how ideas about early learning have developed over time and proposes a new pedagogical view that goes beyond the deprivation model. Identifies three antinomies that have emerged as ideas about early learning. Concludes that children must be accepted as members and participants in the culture and be given opportunities to make and remake…

This article discusses how schools can facilitate the normal development of young abused/neglected children; examines how research can provide schools with the sensitivity and tools for accomplishing this task; and addresses the early childhood curriculum, the treatment of dysfunctional behavior, and the role of the early childhood teacher. (CR)

Illustrates the important roles that fathers and mothers play in helping the family to connect and in encouraging their children's autonomy. Claims that fathers have the same physiological response to an infant's cry and go through the same sequence of earliest parental behaviors as mothers. Concludes that there is no biological imperative…

Examined the relationships between parental stress and the security of attachment relationships. Subjects were 33 mothers of children who were attending a preschool program for high-risk families. Found a negative relationship between the Child Domain section of the Parenting Stress Index and Attachment Q-set scores. Results highlighted the need…

Research on the communication, language, social, and emotional development of people with autism is reviewed, concerning individuals who either are nonspeaking/limited speaking or use speech as their primary mode of linguistic communication. Research needs for longitudinal studies, investigation of early developmental patterns, and subgroup…

This discussion of self-determination in young children with severe disabilities first offers a definition of self-determination and then looks at the early roots of self-determination from a developmental perspective. The article explores the relationship of (1) skills associated with self-determination and (2) practices, curriculum, and…