Discusses factors associated with the development of secure and insecure mother-infant attachments and reviews results from intervention studies designed to promote secure attachment. Presents recommendations for early interventions to promote secure attachment that can be carried out by practitioners in a variety of settings. (CR)

Examines and analyzes factors responsible for the increasing prevalence and incidence of preschool children with behavior disorders. The research indicates the use of drug therapy, time out, extinction and positive reinforcement, overcorrection procedures, and modeling can be effective reduction strategies for behavior problems. Early intervention…

Examines the relationships of smoking-related beliefs, attitudes, and smoking status, with a focus on experimental smoking. Survey results of 9,774 respondents suggest that attitude and belief variables can adequately predict smoking stages of adolescents as defined by the stage model of smoking acquisition. Argues that intervention with…

This article presents a developmental perspective on language acquisition that can serve as a framework for understanding and treating the language and communication challenges faced by children with autism. Profiles of five children (ages 3-7) with autism spectrum disorders are discussed to illustrate the application of a Developmental…

This article proposes a dual-discrepancy approach to identifying children who do not respond to generally effective reading instruction. Curriculum based measurement is suggested as an effective tool for detecting dual discrepancies and an example is provided from an ongoing program of research that uses the dual-discrepancy approach to identify…

This article synthesizes articles discussed as part of the research symposium at the 24th International Conference on Learning Disabilities on October 11, 2002. Topics include translating learning disability research to practice, identification of learning disabilities, special education and postmodernism, and the response to treatment model.…

A project provided weekly home visits to support two children at risk of struggling with literacy during their first year at school. Results found the two families in the project responded positively to the home visits and maintained their engagement, and that the intervention was effective. (Contains references.) (CR)

This article describes medical problems that occur more frequently in young children with Down syndrome. These include common cardiac, hearing, and vision problems and less common thyroid and celiac diseases. Guidelines for preventing dental and obesity problems are followed by suggestions to early interventionists for watching for leukemia, neck…

This study evaluated effects of a teacher-training package that included sequential components of activity-based intervention (ABI) alone and ABI with discrete trials on the rate of instructional opportunities for young children with disabilities. All three children showed a higher rate of independent correct responses to target learning…

This review examines the literature on how to teach kindergarten children with reading and writing difficulties how to write. Research on handwriting instruction, spelling instruction, and composition writing is discussed. Although the research on writing instruction in kindergarten is limited, findings suggest it can include instructional…

A survey of all 50 states and the District of Columbia found that more than half the states utilized a Higher Education Consortium to facilitate personnel development and capacity building in the early intervention disciplines. Information about the membership, mission, and meeting structure is provided as well as possible explanations for why…

This article reviews elements of a well-designed treatment study and evaluates the state of knowledge about comprehensive treatment programs for children with autism. Several suggestions are made for improving future studies, including more rigorous designs, searching for active ingredients of treatment programs, and measuring change. (Contains…

Behavior states and related developmental and medical variables were observed for 34 infants with severe cognitive and multiple disabilities for their first four years. Findings demonstrated emerging state profiles consistent with those found among older populations in previous studies. Results suggest the need for specific, early interventions…

Discusses the importance of involving parents and families in their young child's assessment. Offers suggestions for early childhood educators to: explain the evaluation process to families, explain the particular assessment tool, ask questions to validate the assessment process, explain results, address difficult issues, and provide resources to…

The article describes Project LINKS (Linking Interagencies and New Knowledge Systems) at Northern Illinois University, a competency-based program which prepares trainers at the graduate level for infant and toddler interventions. The program offers extensive field-based experiences and collaborative links with the university, other agencies, and…