Reviews different approaches used over the past two decades to study early behavioral development in infants. Reviews research in areas as physical and cognitive development and the role of adult caretakers. (BD)

Explores some ways in which teachers can direct the efforts of parents so that children gain the best possible advantage in learning to read. (Author)

Fifty-six 12-month-old infants, (10 maltreated infants; 18 nonmaltreated, high-risk infants; and 28 matched low-income controls) were videotaped at home with their mothers for 40 minutes and were observed two weeks later in the Ainsworth Strange Situation. Maltreating mothers could be discriminated by uninformed coders from nonmaltreating mothers.…

For many Americans, family life involves little time to do things together, lack of communication, superficial relationships, and few positive supports for each other. Ways in which fathers, schools, the government, and industry can help alleviate these problems are discussed. (CB)

Summarizes several leading theories regarding the disappearance of childhood in modern society. Examines this pattern of eroding childhood in two young adult novels, Robert Cormier's AFTER THE FIRST DEATH and Cynthia Voight's A SOLITARY BLUE. (MM)

Investigates the readability level of written materials (such as notices or newsletters) sent by six all-day kindergartens/child-parent centers to parents of disadvantaged children. Found that the readability of the materials ranged from sixth grade to higher than college level, and that the mean level was midtenth grade. (ARH)

This article reviews the impact of learning disabilities on self-esteem, discussing: how self-esteem develops, how it suffers when learning disabilities are present, and how to contribute to a learning-disabled child's self-esteem by helping the child feel more capable, more significant, more powerful, and more worthy. (Author/JDD)

The article delineates components of a comprehensive guidance/counseling plan for gifted and talented students. Tables provide guidance/counseling objectives for gifted children; functions of the teacher, parent, administrator, and counselor; and intervention strategies in the personal/social, academic, and career/vocational areas. (DB)

Reports a strong, highly specific relationship between young children's knowledge of nursery rhymes and the development of phonological skills, which remained significant when differences in IQ and social background were controlled. Measures of nursery rhymes and alliteration were related to early reading skills. (Author/NH)

Children's reactions to divorce are explored by examining the following types of variables: (1) outcome variables such as adjustment to home and school; (2) contextual variables such as socioeconomic status; and (3) psychosocial factors such as attitudes. Most children were found to be well adjusted, especially when they were still involved with…

Explored participation in and impact of social roles on psychological and physical health of middle-aged and older Black women. Found that few such women participated in the three roles of parent, spouse, and employee simultaneously. Of these three roles, only employment showed a significant relationship to well-being, having a positive impact on…

Corporal punishment and suspension are cruel and discriminatory. School social workers can help to implement more humane strategies such as the following: (1) in-school suspension; (2) timeout procedures; (3) assignment to alternative schools; (4) behavior contracting; (5) use of peers and parents; and (6) social and cognitive skills training. (VM)

The article focuses on giftedness in preschool-age children, including: the importance of early identification of giftedness, identification methods, techniques for providing a nurturing environment in the home, needs of parents of gifted children, and school programs for serving the gifted. A bibliography of relevant books and periodicals is…

Indicates that (1) age and family control did not influence children's television viewing levels; (2) age influenced program preferences of children; (3) cartoon preferences related negatively to family control for the youngest groups; and (4) comedy and children's program preferences and television realism related positively to family control for…

Discusses the major components, weaknesses, and strengths of three types of reading programs: the basal reading approach, the language experience approach, and the individualized reading approach. (FL)