Early linguistic environment has shown an impact on children's later language development, particularly, child directed speech has been associated with providing children with linguistic input from which to look for regularities and patterns, and boosting children to produce utterances beyond their current competence. This article aims to examine…

Frequent social comparisons can not only influence parents' well-being but also spill over to their children's development through intergenerational influences within the family. Using data from children and their parents, the current study shows that the higher parents' social comparison orientation is, the less their children are willing to…

This study analysed the role of both sociocultural background and exposure to a creche on children's development of cognitive competence in Switzerland. Data were derived from a survey on children's cognitive proficiency after enrolment to primary school. Correlations and multiple linear regressions indicate that creche experience was not related…

Compares incidence of caries in 60 13 to 15 year olds in 2 Nigerian schools, 1 with an affluent population and the other with students from a lower socioeconomic level. Data on parental occupations, patterns of dental practice, and eating habits were collected. Caries incidence in different categories of social standing was similar. (NH)

Argues that the unequal status of Maori and women in New Zealand society must change. This change must involve human goals, not financial or politically expedient ones. (PCB)

Used Smilansky and Parten/Piaget play measures to assess social class and sex differences in Singapore preschoolers' play at home and preschool centers. Found that parallel and functional play were higher at home than in centers and associative/cooperative play was higher in centers than homes. Smilansky scores were higher at centers than homes,…

Investigated the relationship between joint attention and toddler's race, sex, and SES. Found that joint attention related to a "persisting" mother, whether or not the toddler accepted the initial maternal bid. Females engaged in joint attention bouts and nonpersistent maternal responses after the bid was accepted more often than males. Race and…

Using naturalistic observation, investigates the social behavior, levels of social participation, and sex differences of kindergarten children as they played with blocks. Uses both unit blocks and large, hollow blocks to gain a more complete understanding of the relationship between block play and social development. (DST)

Used Academic Motivation Self-Rating Inventory to examine Greek student motives for school learning at end of primary school and how motives are differentiated during transition to secondary school. Found that academic motivation increased upon secondary-school entry and was not related to student's gender or socioeconomic status. Primary0school…

Examines the effects of socialization on the size of Yoruba children's drawings of a man and a woman through use of the Draw a Person test. Findings support the prediction that male figures were drawn relatively larger than female figures only in the low income group, reflecting the gender inequality that appears typical of the Yoruba social…

Discusses racism and ways in which children learn racism. Describes five techniques teachers can use to discourage racism. (RJC)

Comparison of never pregnant teenagers, adolescent and older mothers was undertaken to determine differences on (1) an overall infant development test, (2) a developmental infant abilities test, and (3) first and second year infant abilities test. Findings are discussed in terms of differences in social class and parent child interaction styles.…

Considers nature and extent of child abuse by examining the cultural context within which abuse takes place; the different forms of abuse and effects on the family; the extent of the problem, particularly among different social classes; and the role of the teacher. (DST)

Examined relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and mediated learning experience (MLE) in mother-child free-play and structured interaction situations, and how well MLE predicted cognitive performance of kindergartners. Found that MLE scores were positively related to SES, and higher in free-play than in structured situations, especially…

Examines background factors of nineteenth-century education, especially the development of systematic training for elementary school mistresses, and social class. Concentrates on Whitelands College's recruitment of future teachers with reference to their social class. (NH)