Criticizes current prevention education efforts for retaining characteristics of older quantitative approaches to education. Suggests qualitative approach to prevention education be taken and discusses transactional model of substance abuse based on development of the child within both social and family context. Recommends approach that draws…

A model of the sources and consequences of mismatches between gestures and speech is presented that argues that the transitional knowledge state is the source of the mismatch and that such mismatches signal that a child is in a transitional state of concept acquisition and is ready to learn. (SLD)

Examines first graders' existing knowledge in relation to what they are expected to learn, by: (1) listing music vocabulary words appearing in music textbooks; (2) comparing oral vocabulary with vocabulary listed for music instruction; and (3) comparing frequency of selected music terms with frequency of same terms in general oral vocabulary. (DSK)

In discussing cognitive development in infants, the article focuses on how the infant brain is taught to learn, what the learning mechanisms are (events that happen at synaptic contacts between nerve cells that lead to learning and memory), what causes mental retardation, and what can be done to prevent or reverse mental retardation. (SM)

This study sought to differentiate pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDDNOS) from similar nonautistic disorders on the basis of a cognitive deficit, theory of mind (ToM), which is the ability to infer mental states in others, a deficit highly prevalent in autism, a disorder similar to PDDNOS. Results suggest that children…

Two studies examined preschool children's beliefs about maternal intention as a mechanism for trait inheritance. Study 1 indicated that preschoolers believe that maternal intention plays a role in inheritance of physical traits. Study 2 suggested that children see some properties as outside maternal control, and that maternal intention operates…

Compared the interaction of depressed and nondepressed mothers and their infants with joint attention during mother-infant play. Found that although maternal vocal attention was generally higher for male infants than for female infants, depressed mothers gave more vocal attention to female infants. Found no correlation between mothers' vocal…

Examined word retrieval in 14- to 24-month-olds. Found that children with limited productive vocabularies were less likely to produce labels of hidden objects than children with larger vocabularies, even though all could name them and did well when asked to find them. Pictorial cues facilitated word retrieval. Naming errors peaked among children…

Compares drawings of English children with mild learning difficulties (M.L.D.) with those of children of the same chronological age and of the same mental age. Reports that drawings by M.L.D. children are similar to those of children at the same mental age. Suggests that M.L.D. children follow a normal rather than deviant developmental pattern.…

Explores the nature of images created by Paleolithic artists and autistic artists in regard to drawing techniques and image function. Explains the commonalities based on a discussion of the role of the early vision process and the construction of meaning. Notes the importance of this research for understanding autistic artists. (DSK)

A study examined mothers' perceptions of the toy play of their 57 preschoolers (ages 2-5) with intellectual disabilities. The majority reported children not only engaged in appropriate play with toys, but engaged in advanced levels of play. Mothers also reported children would play with toys for extended periods of time. (Contains references.)…

Presents two charts designed by Maria Montessori to illustrate the four planes of development. Claims that Montessori's meticulously researched commentary signals an emerging organic vision of the developmental continuum from birth to adulthood that is relevant to the educational needs of our time. (MOK)

Assessed 5-, 6-, 8- and 9-year-olds on two working memory tasks to explore the complementarity of working memory models postulated by Pascual-Leone and Baddeley. Pascual-Leone's theory offered a clear explanation of the results concerning central aspects of working memory. Baddeley's model provided a convincing account of findings regarding the…

A review of current research on outcomes of children born premature and low birth weight provides a detailed summary of the long-term performance in the areas of cognition, motor, behavior, and language performance. Three tables provide comparative data for major studies concerned with developmental outcomes of pre-term children for cognition,…

According to recent research studies, watching television has become the number one leisure activity among both children and adults. The effect of excessive television viewing on the cognitive development of children is reported. Solutions and suggestions for parents and teachers to help children integrate television into their lives in the most…