Infancy is a period of significant change for both the brain and behavior. During the first two years of life, the brain experiences an explosion of synaptic connections and myelination, alongside rapid development in motor, linguistic, and social behavioral abilities. Understanding the relationship between brain development and behavioral…

This paper describes the development of the senses of speech and thought and identifies the physical organs associated with those senses. The child's word sense is born only after the development of the ability to walk. From direct experience, communicated to them by the speech sense, children know that words are different from any other sounds…

Summarizes research findings that challenge long-standing theories of infant cognition and motor development and proposes alternative theoretical models to describe skill acquisition during the first several years of life. Findings are discussed with respect to research in the area of infant speech physiology and production. (Author/CR)

The document--two thirds of which consists of appendixes--presents the final report of Project PREP (Preschool Recreation Enrichment Program), which evaluated a handicapped preschool children's recreation program emphasizing motor, socialization, self concept, and language development. The need for preschool recreation programs for handicapped…

This document presents a detailed review and index of post-1960 modeling-imitation research relevant to the development and education of children. Each research study is described in terms of purpose, independent and dependent variables, task and procedures, model and subject characteristics, materials and results. In addition, an overall model is…

This resource for parents and other caretakers to use with infants from 8 to 18 months provides a synthesis of research on early brain development and objective-oriented instruction as the basis for activities that promote intellectual development. Part 1 of the book provides an overview of early development, discusses general ways of enhancing…

Provided is a manual describing a model for early childhood services for visually impaired children (birth to school readiness) developed in Montgomery County, Maryland; presenting the philosophical framework from which the services were developed; and providing some field-tested strategies for intervention with the children and their families.…

The document--half of which consists of appendixes--is intended as a guide for developing and implementing preschool recreation programs for handicapped children, based on the Preschool Recreation Enrichment Program (PREP) model. Information on the growth and development of both normal and handicapped preschool children is presented, touching upon…

This guide provides a curriculum model for preschool programs specifically designed for preschool children (ages 3-5) with visual impairments. The book provides an extensive review of the literature with measurable behavioral objectives for each developmental level. Chapter 1, "Psychological Evaluation for the Preschool Visually Impaired Child"…

The Alaska Model for Early Childhood Education is an attempt to bring major ideas into focus for neighborhood programs. Suggested specifications for staff, facilities, equipment, activities, and parent involvement are presented. Sections deal with: (1) needs, objectives and activities; (2) child development activities and environments--physical…