A study compared 13 children (ages 5-7) with autism and 13 typical children on their ability to match videotaped still, dynamic, and strobe emotional and non-emotional facial expressions with photographs. The children with autism did not perform significantly worse than controls on any experimental conditions. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

A study involving eight high-functioning children with autism found they could define words, identify multiple meanings for ambiguous words, and make inferences from mental state verbs to given or presupposed knowledge. However, they failed to infer what mental state verbs implied in context and to make inferences about social scripts. (Contains…

A study examined the socioemotional experiences of adolescents with and without learning disabilities (LD) in an Israeli kibbutz environment during school transition periods. Seventh- and ninth-graders with LD received more social peer rejection and were judged by teachers to exhibit lower social skills and higher behavioral problems. (Contains…

A review of 27 studies that examined effects of childhood physical abuse and exposure to partner violence found that the children who were victims or witnesses to violence in the home were at risk for experiencing both behavioral and emotional problems and somewhat at risk for impaired social functioning. (CR)

A review of 36 studies on school-age children with mental retardation indicated children in general classes do not attain social acceptance ratings at as high a level as do their typical peers. Integrated students perform better than segregated students on measures of academic achievement and social competence. (Contains extensive references.)…

Presents a series of observations of infant/toddler-caregiver interaction in the child care setting to illustrate infants' social competence and its potential link to emotional literacy. Concludes that caregivers need to appreciate infants' communicative competence, listen to preverbal behaviors, and reflect on their images of children and the…

Observed functioning of same-sex triads of middle grade children during an intimate discussion, a cooperative puzzle task, a competitive game, and free play. Found that triads of girls were more intimate, exchanged more information, and were less aggressive than triads of boys. Girls and boys expressed similar attitudes toward triadic interaction,…

Explains characteristics of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): delay in self-regulation; living in the moment; difficulty remaining focused; lag in social development; and the positive characteristics of intuition, spontaneity, energy, creativity, and artistic skills. Sidebars discuss a neurobiological understanding of ADHD and tips…

This article describes all the steps and materials necessary to organize and conduct a handwriting club that provides direct instruction in handwriting combined with sensory integration activities. Typical club session format, sample activities, the promotion of social skills, handwriting strategies, and external stimulants are discussed.…

Explores preschool-age children's perceptions about social relations. Conducted a comparative experiment with children brought up within a family versus within a children's home focusing on social development and social experience as actualized through play, artistic ability, and communicative speech. Discusses the results. (CMK)

Study follows 106 kindergarten students through 11th grade examining the effects of family characteristics, school readiness, socialization, and student demographics on academic achievement and behavioral adjustment outcomes. Results demonstrate that retained students' initial school readiness, socioeconomic status, mother's level of education,…

Examines three issues from study by Jaffe et al.: predictive nature of face-to-face play, the psychological present moment for infants, and the representation of the pragmatics of dialogue. Emphasizes value of the study for future work in social interaction. (DLH)

Analyzes the philosophies of Confucius and Aristotle, stating that both subscribed to the common principles that emphasize ethical education for building individual cultivation, social harmony, and the ideal state. However, Confucius emphasized his ethical and political principles without supporting the metaphysical and epistemological theories,…

Examines the importance of identity--at the community, national, and international levels and as an educational and social development construct--in the educational philosophies of Paulo Freire and John Dewey. Stresses the dynamic quality of identity and its relation to social development. (Contains 46 references.) (NB)

To prosper as adults, students must develop varied literacies, including personal economic skills (understandings of credit, home ownership, retirement planning, taxation, and investing) and social and emotional literacies such as family and personal coping skills. Regarding aesthetic literacy, art should permeate the school environment through…