Research is reported which investigated the ability of four-month-old hearing infants to discriminate between gestures derived from American Sign Language. Findings show that infants possess the perceptual abilities to differentiate between signs that differ solely in terms of contrasts along a single underlying movement direction. (SED)

Five-, five-and-a-half-, and seven-month-old infants were tested for sensitivity to relative size as distance information. Infants viewed two equidistant, different-sized objects presented side by side and reaching was used as dependent measure. Findings revealing five-and-a-half- and seven- but not five-month-olds were sensitive to relative size…

Infants were tested for unimanual handedness at weekly intervals for a 14-week period beginning with the week of onset of duplicated syllable babbling. Group analyses indicating effects of sex and/or birth order on fluctuations and date review for individual infants suggested considerable variability across infants in occurrence and/or timing of…

Presents statistics showing the diversity of economics in 24 countries. Tables include information on: agricultural area; population; labor force (percent females); agricultural/industry/services employment; gross domestic product; government expenditure and revenue; trade balance, imports/exports; consumer prices; infant mortality; animal…

Describes the adult's primary responsibility in facilitating toddler play as being a supportive participant. Includes guidelines for supporting play and planning play activities. (AS)

Two experiments assessed the importance of sound duration for eliciting head orientation responses from newborn infants. Results suggest that newborns' head orientation response may reflect a motor program that is initiated by auditory input and then executed in a similar fashion regardless of further stimulation. (Author/AS)

Studies that have questioned how children best demonstrate their ability to discriminate pitch are discussed, and practical applications of the findings are examined. One specific performance-based response that is not necessarily a good indicator of ability to discriminate pitch is singing. (RM)

The article cites the need for quality evaluation of the effects of early intervention programs for handicapped students and outlines a meta-analysis approach to examine issues of efficacy and cost effectiveness. Proposed plans for collecting and analyzing cost effectiveness data are detailed. (CL)

Sex differences were examined in a longitudinal sample of 193 parent-infant pairs. Sex differences were absent in measures of environment and parent-child interaction but present in parent prediction of children's later intellectual and linguistic skills. The same experiences appear to have different effects for boys and girls. (KH)

Interviewed 63 nonworking and 42 working mothers with a first baby to examine the relationship between previous work involvement and the experience of first-time motherhood. Results showed high-work-involvement women tended to report greater irritability and higher costs of motherhood. For working mothers, work involvement was generally unrelated…

This discussion centers on language development in young children particularly as it relates to Piaget's work. The author believes guidelines are lacking for describing structurally the outcome of the language acquisition process at different stages and that there should be more collaboration between linguists and psychologists in this area. (MS)

Available from: EC 090 265.

This annual report of the Greater Minneapolis Day Care Association (GMDCA) details the accomplishments of the organization for 2001-2002. The report begins with a letter from the executive director focusing on need to continue funding for the Basic Sliding Fee Child-Care Assistance program to help low- and moderate-income working families. The…

This handbook for parents and professionals describes Alabama's early intervention and preschool educational system for young children with disabilities. A list of common special education acronyms precedes the guide's four main sections. Section 1, on the state's early intervention system for infants and toddlers, includes the program's purposes…

This paper asserts that infant-toddler teachers, like preschool teachers, need to be cognizant of individual children's developmental levels, chronological ages, and general developmental stages, as well as infant-toddler theories and developmentally appropriate practice for infants and toddlers. In that spirit, the paper describes the purpose and…