Many young children engage in challenging behaviors that could have short- and long-term negative effects for both the children and their families. Challenging behaviors refer to "any repeated pattern of behavior, or perception of behavior, that interferes with or is at risk of interfering with optimal learning or engagement in prosocial…

Whole-school or whole-class programs designed to promote positive behavior can enhance the likelihood that effective teaching and learning occur for all students. This practice guide is intended to help elementary education educators, as well as school and district administrators and parents, implement and support effective prevention-focused…

Practitioners and parents are seeking ways to help children who are not able to integrate sensory information; this has generated recent media attention. A child's inability to integrate sensory information can have implications for the whole family and their everyday routines. Research conducted by occupational therapists has provided a rich…

This paper outlines practical information on children with attention deficit disorder (ADD). Guidelines for identifying ADD are presented, followed by a summary of what parents and students can expect from special education and related services in public schools. Pros and cons of medication are noted, and recommendations for managing the child's…

Suggestions are provided on how to identify the preschool gifted-talented-creative (GTC) child, how parents explain away giftedness, how parents can retrospectively understand themselves as GTC, how to deal with problem behavior and the effects of divided parental authority, and how to bring out the best in each child. (JDD)

Asperger's Syndrome (AS) is a relatively recent term in education and psychology and has gained more interest since it became a recognized exceptionality in the United States in 1994. It is classified with autism under the term "Pervasive Developmental Disorder" (PDD). The primary criteria for diagnosis include linguistic, social, and behavioral…

Intended for teachers and parents, the book offers guidelines for recognizing and dealing with allergies as causes of learning and behavior problems. Each chapter identifies relevant references in the bibliography. In the first chapter such signs of behavioral reactions as facial or body clues, changes in school performance, and changes in writing…

The booklet, written by a parent and psychiatrist, provides basic information on autistic children and their families. Introductory sections touch on the history of the condition, its incidence, and its associated learning problems. Subsequent sections address the following topics: signs and symptoms, basic handicaps, behavior problems (such as…

This digest discusses the occurrence of other disabilities which, in combination with diminished hearing, can create additional learning problems for children with hearing impairments. Topics on educational strategies for these children address: (1) the prevalence of other disabilities in children with hearing loss, including learning…

This handbook was written to share the feelings, experiences, and knowledge of parents of children with emotional disturbances. The first chapter, "Feelings Come First," examines the difficulty in identifying the causes of emotional disturbances, their impact on the family, and coping strategies. The second chapter, "Finding Some Help," describes…

The National Research Council formed a Committee on Educational Interventions for Children with Autism and charged the committee with integrating the scientific, theoretical, and policy literature and creating a framework for evaluating the scientific evidence concerning the effects and features of educational interventions for young children with…