Written for the skeptical teen who groans at the mere concept of manners, this guide provides answers to simple and complex etiquette problems, showing that being polite is a learned skill that can produce effective results. Chapters over a broad range of behavior issues including gift-giving, conversation, personal hygiene, appropriate attire,…

This report details findings of the Cost, Quality, and Outcomes (CQO) Study, which examined the influence of typical center-based childcare on children's development during their preschool years and then subsequently as they moved into elementary school. Among the major findings of the study are that children who attended higher quality childcare…

The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99, began following a nationally representative sample of approximately 22,000 kindergartners in the fall of 1998. Baseline data about these children, their families, and the kindergarten programs were collected from telephone interviews with the children's parents/guardians and…

The current emphasis on children's academic preparedness continues to overshadow the importance of children's social and emotional development for school readiness. This Digest presents a brief overview of longitudinal research linking children's emotional development to school readiness and early childhood success, and then discusses…

Noting that linguistic, social, emotional, and cognitive development are complementary processes that ultimately work together to shape a child's literacy growth, this article discusses the relationship between children's development and their social interaction with knowledgeable others on the selection of children's literature for the promotion…

Supportive relationships, especially those with primary caregivers, are crucial for both the physical survival and the healthy social-emotional development of infants and toddlers. This guide, the first in a series on infant mental health from the Center for Program Excellence, describes how supportive relationships promote the social-emotional…

The What Works Briefs are a series of short, easy-to-read, "how-to" information packets designed to: (1) promote practices that support young children's social and emotional development and prevent challenging behaviors; (2) highlight practices, strategies, and intervention procedures that have been found to effectively prevent and address…

School curricula reflect the sociocultural values held by society. As such, curricula may adopt: (1) a philosophically humanistic, individual-sensitive orientation, or (2) an economically-driven, social development orientation. This first orientation supports self-realization and prioritizes a broad-based and multidisciplinary school curriculum.…

The National Inclusive Camp Practices (NICP) project was a national study of inclusive outdoor programs that examined outcomes for youth with and without disabilities. This paper reports qualitative findings that were gathered using case study methodology across 14 inclusive programs: 12 resident camp programs and 2 outdoor schools. At each site,…

Noting recent media stories claiming that gender reform in schools has benefited girls at the expense of boys, this book offers an overview of the issues surrounding boys and education. The book argues that popular constructions of masculinity affect boys in all parts of their lives: in families, peer groups, and work cultures--at home, at school,…

Many researchers in the field of education and psychology have been aware of the tremendous impact of the environment as a complex system on human development. By providing and creating the most favorable environment for children, active and wholesome social development is promoted. Three principle areas of concern in creating a quality early…

Perhaps the only way to maintain consistent support for the arts will be to demonstrate decisively that fine arts programs can contribute in quantifiable and positive ways to solving important social problems such as crime and violence. The broad goal of this impact study is to provide such evidence. This report discusses the results of the second…

This presentation is an attempt to produce a framework out of the knowledge of the growth and development of children and youth for use in determining the school program. This is necessary at a time when education has accepted the objective of secondary education. Educators are in agreement with parents and citizens generally that all youth…

Studies in the role of play in child development are classified in terms of their major correlates or dependent variables: (1) creativity, (2) problem solving, (3) language development, (4) logical skills, and (5) social knowledge. Study designs are critically examined, and internal and external validity problems are noted. (Author/PN)

Evidence clearly suggests that social competence and social adjustment are areas in which educable mentally retarded students may profit most from self-contained class placement, while the relative effects of self-contained versus mainstreamed environments on achievement remains equivocal. (Author)