Eye movements of 12-week-old infants were recorded in a visual encoding experiment. Results showed that infants who encoded more slowly scanned less extensively over the stimulus and engaged in prolonged fixation. An experiment with two-week olds showed significant age differences in the manner of visual scanning. (BC)

Discusses Piagetian stages of infant development during the first two years of life. Describes activities that caregivers can use to foster infant capabilities at each developmental stage. (BB)

Examined relationship between aggregate measures of family structure and homicide victimization rates of infants and children in 17 developed nations since 1965. Results indicated infant homicide rates were higher where rates of births to teenage mothers were higher; child homicide rates were higher where illegitimacy rates, births to teenage…

Discharging the premature infant from the hospital calls for provision of support to families in such areas as capitalizing on family strengths and resources, empowering parents to make informed decisions, creating opportunities for parent-to-parent contact, focusing intervention goals on parent-identified needs, and providing services to families…

Presents moral philosophical arguments regarding life-saving medical treatment that may be more available to infants without disabilities than to infants with intellectual disabilities. Argues that human well-being is not based merely on individual characteristics, but is a result of the individual's relation to other people. (Author/CR)

A study involving 166 infants with disabilities found that mothers' employment plans and child-care decisions were affected by their children's special needs. Children with Down syndrome compared with those with other developmental delays entered child care earlier, were more likely to be in centers, and received lower quality care. (CR)

Encourages early-intervention practitioners to recognize the benefits of applying management concepts to the field of social work. A five-function model of management is presented that includes the concepts of planning, organizing, staffing, leadership, and control. Case studies illustrate relevance of the five-function model for improving…

Notes that the majority of brain development occurs in the first three years of life. States that infant and toddler interactions are beneficial to both ages, provided contact occurs in a safe environment. Discusses how infants and toddlers learn from each other through play, even if they are nonverbal, and further benefit from insights and…

Asks whether the National Curriculum, introduced to British primary schools in 1989, has succeeded in raising standards of attainment in mathematics. Analyzes mathematics standards of eight cohorts of year 6 students from five primary schools from 1989 to 1996. Reveals no evidence of rising standards in attainment. (DSK)

Reflects on the motivating conditions, goals, works, and aspirations of the Juniper Gardens Children's Project (JGCP). The JGCP was established in 1964 to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty of a 10-square-mile urban area in Kansas City, Kansas, by improving developmental and educational experiences within the community. (CR)

Examines exhibits and discourses about three prominent groups of disabilities at the 1904 World's Fair: individuals with blindness or deafness; individuals with mental retardation; and babies who were premature. The identification of disabled who could improve and the use of education and science to control disabled are discussed. (CR)

Gives recommendations for providing culturally sensitive service coordination for Hispanic families, including become part of the family, be flexible, accept different views of time and punctuality, be accessible, speak the language, be aware of views of authority, and understand why families may not follow up on recommendations. (CR)

This article traces a personal and professional journal that paralleled the growth and direction of personnel preparation in early childhood special education. The development of a professional identity is discussed, along with future trends toward generalist certification and funding early intervention services through a fee-for-service…

Discussion of the role of play in development of young children with disabilities considers the different forms of play as the child develops, the social nature of play, contexts and play materials, and the value of including play goals and strategies in the individualized family service plan or individual education program developed cooperatively…

This article discusses the confusion, inaccuracies, and misperceptions arising from the term "infant mental health," and proposes a framework for the use of the term. This framework sets out a language and clear distinctions among the categories of promotion, relationship-based preventive intervention, and treatment. (Contains references.)…