Examined the types of comments made by 12 mothers to their prelinguistic children (between 10 and 14 months of age) in the communication-specific setting of book reading. Found the degree of illustration to have important effects on the types of comments made by mothers to their children. (SKC)

Gusii patterns of reproduction and child care evolved in an agrarian setting in which land was abundant and children were scarce. With land now scarce and children abundant, parents continue to be resourceful and strategic in their infant care, but they have not yet altered their reproductive goals of high fertility. (RH)

Compares the behavior of mothers to their own infants at three- to four- and nine- to 10-months of age in five of the societies described in previous chapters: Gusii of Kenya, Yucatec Mayan of Mexico, Italian, Swedish, and suburban Bostonian. Reveals differences between agrarian and urban-industrial societies, as well as culture-specific patterns…

Examines day care in the context of normal developmental issues. Elaborates on Jay Belsky's views on the role of developmental concepts in day-care issues. (SKC)

Followup at age 4 of 55 children, previously investigated for failure to thrive (FFT) at 4-18 months of age, indicated normal growth for most children with organic causes of FFT, but persisting suboptimal growth patterns for children with nonorganic FFT, particularly for those children with higher numbers of risk factors. (Author/DB)

Examines the National Pediatric Service and the research program of the Maternity-Infant-Hospital-School in Honduras. Reports that health conditions of young children (birth to six years) in Honduras are appalling and that available funds for health services are inadequate, reflecting the country's economic and social crisis. (NH)

Examined the stability of two aspects of infant visual attention derived from the paired-comparison procedure in infants tested at 6, 7, and 8 months of age. The two aspects were novelty preference and exposure time. Suggests that both novelty and exposure-time scores reflect moderately stable but independent characteristics of infant behavior.…

The article describes the Parent and Toddler Training Project, a research-based early intervention program for visually impaired and blind multihandicapped infants, toddlers, and their families in the Western Pennsylvania area. Project purposes include increasing infant social responsiveness, developing parenting skills, reducing family…

Examined role of grandparents in infancy in comparative analysis of grandparent-infant grandchild and parent-infant interaction patterns. Results revealed that both grandmothers and grandfathers were active interactive and support agents, with pattern of similarities and differences in interactive style across generation and gender. (Author/NB)

The effects of a combined neuromotor/behavioral approach using a microcomputer mediated teaching system on the acquisition of basic motor skills by two young children (17- and 24-months-old) with severe and multiple disabilities were examined. Increased frequency and duration of target behaviors in both training and generalizing settings were…

Describes an innovative interdisciplinary program for hospital care and followup of premature infants at the University of Florida involving psychologists, counselors, and educators. Notes this growing population of surviving neonates has a high risk of developmental disability, which can be reduced by developmental intervention. (Author)

The paper summarizes results from two Illinois studies on the roles of educational personnel (n=420) employed in special programs for infants/toddlers and three- to five-year-olds, and evaluates preservice training needs of these personnel. Time spent in various roles and perceptions of ideal emphasis on role areas during preservice are discussed.…

The study examined cognitive and emotional aspects of development in four infants treated from 10 to 52 months in a reverse isolation environment because of congenital severe combined immunodeficiency disease. Case material is discussed with reference to severe disruption of oral feeding experience, quality of parental involvement, and sensory…

In 1981, the Missouri State Department of Education hired the authors to design a model parent education program to enrich children's learning experiences during the first three years. The program, whose availabilty is now mandatory in Missouri, grew out of the authors' research with above average preschoolers and other early childhood studies.…

The nature of emotion in mentally retarded people is considered. Recent research and theory suggest that two approaches are applicable to the study of mental retardation: the behavioral tradition, particularly conditioned emotional responding as well as emotional expression and recognition; and recent investigations of emotional development in…