Notes that increased emphasis on early intervention has created opportunities for greater involvement by counselors at prekindergarten level. Sees preparation for this role as requiring strong background in early childhood development and family systems orientation to intervention. Contends that professional perspective that counselor brings to…

Notes that, in working with prekindergarten children, elementary counselors may integrate such therapeutic approaches as play techniques, affective education, behavior modification, bibliotherapy, relaxation training, and family counseling. Focuses on benefits of developmental play counseling and affective education with young children. (NB)

A study of 13 14-month-old and 12 18-month-old children found that the younger infants relied more on gestures and fussing to express their physical wants, whereas the older infants relied more on vocal responses, especially when clarification of their wants was needed. (MDM)

Examined the relationship between maternal and infant measures of interaction, maternal psychosocial problems, infant cognitive development, and infant attachment security at 18 months of age and child behavior problems at age 5. Disorganized-disorientated attachment status and maternal psychosocial problems were the strongest predictors of…

This paper discusses the need for child care for infants and toddlers with disabilities and chronic illnesses; types of child care; shortage of and need for specially trained caregivers; influence of federal programs; the importance of family involvement; and a program providing preservice training to caregivers in public and private child care…

The coping characteristics of 1,035 disabled and 405 nondisabled children, aged 4 months to 3 years, are assessed across 3 categories of behavioral patterns (sensorimotor organization, reactive behavior, and self-initiated behavior). The influence of family income, gender, age, and ethnicity is examined and the implications for early intervention…

Descriptions of temperament were more predictive of maternal adaptation than were mothers' expectations of infant behavior. Infant temperament was more important for multiparous mothers than for first-time mothers. Predicted interactive effects were not found. (RH)

The study followed up, at preschool age, 39 high-risk infants who had received infant stimulation services for at least 6 months. Results indicated positive developmental progress by the children and the provision, by most parents, of an average to above average environment. Families had remained relatively intact. (DB)

Compares activities related to maternal organization of infant attention toward mother and the environment in Japanese and American mother-child dyads. Results reveal that the two cultures have both similar activity and interaction patterns and culture-specific patterns. (Author/BB)

Studied attachment behaviors in indigenous Dutch and Surinam-Dutch immigrant mothers and infants. In the Surinam-Dutch group, maternal responsiveness was related to quality of attachment. Surinam-Dutch mothers scored significantly lower on a responsiveness scale than did Dutch mothers. Other cultural differences are noted. (Author/BB)

This study of 46 hearing-impaired 6 year olds sought to determine the age and identification patterns of Oregon children with hearing impairments. Information is presented on parental observation of hearing behaviors during infancy; professionals contacted; average age of suspicion, confirmation, habilitation, and amplification of hearing loss;…

Early identification of hearing loss and provision of amplification as close to birth as possible can facilitate collaboration of the audiologist, therapist, and parents in providing the child with optimal use of aided residual hearing for the purpose of listening and processing language. The philosophy underlying the auditory-verbal intervention…

Examines the manner in which the data-driven character of child development research limits the validity and penetration of the search for new knowledge and understanding, and imposes a skewed image of what is known about children and childhood by excluding the less objective observations and insights of the clinicians and practitioners.…

Compared developmental functioning, health and caregiving needs, visits by biological parents, and case dispositions of 204 infants of various prenatal drug-exposure status. Found that infants with verified drug exposure had significantly more health and caregiving needs, received fewer biological parent visits, and were more frequently placed…

Discusses the deterioration of the health of international adoptees due to increased placements of children from economically troubled countries and a shift from foster to institutional care prior to adoption. The role of early-intervention programs in identifying problems, rehabilitating the child, and supporting the family is discussed.…