A study of 270 abstracts of articles published from 1952 to 1996 investigated the literature on social and emotional needs of gifted students and found most articles were not research based. Half of the articles were overviews of programs, models, or guides and did not include adequate information on their outcomes. (CR)

Presents the results of an investigation of five-year-old children and their families within two contrasting groups. In one group the children were raised to play unhindered by street traffic and without adults present. In group two the children could not leave their residence unaccompanied by adults. Results indicate that an unsuitable…

Examined cross-cultural research literature for support of relationship between children's social functioning and peer acceptance and psychosocial well-being. Used PsychLIT search to identify 18 cross-cultural observational studies focusing on interaction of children up to 12 years. Encountered theoretical orientations. Found that the studies did…

Provides introductory comments and definitions regarding the area of social-emotional interventions in schools. Suggests that although there have been significant advances in school-based social-emotional intervention programming, future efforts are needed to help practitioners customize and implement programs effectively across school systems,…

Twenty ideas for helping students with attention deficit disorder develop social and friendship skills include: (1) assessing students' mastery of social skills; (2) using children's literature to teach social skills; (3) creating a classroom environment that promotes social interaction among students; (4) remembering that social skills are…

Students' social and emotional development is vital in today's education, especially in light of changing family structures. This paper examines implications of recent cultural changes which have resulted in positive and negative changes in students' social and emotional needs, then describes and presents approaches to social and emotional…

Illustrates how significant numbers of college students are "lost": they are unsituated in academic space. Suggests a rigorous exploration of the changing academic space outside of school offices and off campuses. Presents 4 assignments that provide a conceptual place (a topic) while also prompting students to make meaning out of the people-places…

An overview is given of research evidence pertaining to the contribution of sport and physical activity to personal enjoyment, growth, social integration, and social change. It is important to identify the prerequisite activity, leadership, organizational, and environmental conditions for facilitating positive outcomes. (JD)

Examined the psychosocial development of undergraduate students (N=144) in relationship to their perceived competence, readiness, focus, and choices regarding participation in mentoring relationships. Results showed significant relationships between developmental status and students' self-perceptions of their competence as mentors and their…

The relationship between young children's social competence and the goals of early intervention programs is explored, focusing on the significance of peer-related social competence, the development of peer social competence skills in young handicapped children, the nature of assessment and intervention strategies, and the importance of the social…

Discusses the ways in which nonhostile, self-accepting, realistic humor may be an important coping strategy for children. Offers practical suggestions for parents, teachers, and other caretakers to encourage the development of humor in children. (FMW)

Comparison of the social behaviors of intellectually gifted and typical three-to five-year-olds in a university laboratory school found no difference in the two groups on a social development scale, but found that gifted children exhibited cooperative play to a much greater extent. (MSE)

This "Special Focus" section contains three papers which explore social reciprocity interventions for young children with severe handicaps, by describing ways to help parents read and respond to their infants' behavior, help children respond to their caregivers, and help parents and their children have pleasant experiences within the community.…

Identifies theoretical assumptions underlying the "commonsense view" that social behaviors, such as joint attention, social referencing, and protocommunication acts, which emerge toward the end of the first year of life, have been taken as evidence of considerable social understanding, even an "implicit" theory of mind. Argues…

This editorial, introducing a special issue on social-emotional development of students with learning disabilities, reviews general trends in recent research and curriculum development. The editorial presents social-emotional development as the next major area (following cognitive, metacognitive, and behavioral studies) from which meaningful…