Whether family processes that predict positive and negative developmental outcomes are the same in intact families and remarried families was studied through surveys administered to 758 10th graders from families with stepfathers. In this sample, family dissolution and reconstitution does not affect parenting styles with regard to permissiveness…

Roles of language proficiency and general developmental factors on metaphor interpretation were examined for 60 Spanish- and English-speaking and 60 monolingual English-speaking children aged 7-8, 9-10, and 11-12 years. Language proficiency in English and socioeconomic status were considered, but both were less important in metaphor interpretation…

The extent of developmentally appropriate practices was studied in 103 kindergarten classrooms across North Carolina. Ninety-three teachers and 93 principals were also surveyed to determine predictors of classroom quality. Only 20 percent of the classes met criteria for developmental appropriateness, and quality was predictable from teacher and…

The theory and practice of A. Meshcheryakov on the education of blind-deaf children are reviewed. His work, based on a theory of mind rooted in the concept of human activity, is presently out of favor in the Soviet Union, but deserves further study. (SLD)

Research suggests that primary control increases as humans develop from infancy through middle age and then decreases in old age. To minimize losses, individuals rely on cognitively based secondary control processes in middle and old age. Literature on adult control processes is reviewed. (SLD)

Empirical research on the role of school recess is reviewed. Effects of child-level and school-level variables on recess behavior and the impact of recess on classroom behavior and social and cognitive competence are discussed. It is concluded that recess has important educational and developmental implications. (SLD)

A study investigated developmental differences in children's self-perceptions of masculinity and femininity among 251 girls and 266 boys from grades 2 through 7. Meaningful developmental changes occur during the middle childhood period. Single summary scores ignore variations in gender-typed subtrait and raise study methodology questions. (JB)

Discusses the need for communication between parents, caregivers, and infants in high quality caregiving. Emphasizes the importance of a developmentally appropriate program. Addresses primary caregiving in terms of the overall care and nurture of a small group of infants. Discusses methods of reporting and assessment used by caregivers. (GLR)

Describes 17 family education programs considered innovative and promising. The programs selected target low-income families with children between three and eight and are linked with public schools. All of them work with parents to enhance children's cognitive development and academic achievement. Summarizes methods used in recruitment, staffing,…

Describes outreach services that children's librarians can develop to help solve the problems of illiteracy and aliteracy. Highlights include story hours; cooperation with school library media specialists; outreach programs for day care or early childhood centers, family day care homes, low-income housing projects, and community centers; and…

The working memory hypothesis that the development of span in children is related to increasing proficiency in the use of an articulatory loop was tested in two studies with 120 Canadian children in grades 5 and 6 and 11 and 12. Some support was found for the hypothesis. (SLD)

Responds to Claire Golumb's research on the cognitive development of young children's ability to create representations of reality using visual arts. Asserts that young children must find acceptable pictorial substitutes when producing representations. (CFR)

Links the literature on learned helplessness with best practices in teaching children who are deaf-blind. Defines "learned helplessness" and "mastery motivation;" considers identification of learned helplessness; and offers suggestions such as rewarding independent rather than dependent behaviors and integrating orientation, mobility, and…

Reviews past and present research on early communication and language intervention at the Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, presenting three premises that inform most of the Kennedy Center's research on the issue, summarizing seven lines of contemporary research by Kennedy Center investigators that influence the development of…

Describes the modes of transmission of HIV and the course of the disease in infants and toddlers. Information is provided on its effects on early development, medical screening and treatments, therapies, psychosocial assistance, and interventions, including nutritional therapy, occupational and physical therapies, and speech and language therapy.…