Describes the perception-action approach and the dynamic systems approach to motor development. Discusses the importance of understanding the development of the brain and the importance of longitudinal studies of motor development. (RJC)

Four experiments which involved 160 children aged 2 to 19 investigate the mutual exclusivity bias in children's word learning. Results indicate that the bias develops after the second birthday but does not gain full strength or become accessible to consciousness until after the third birthday. (RJC)

Investigates the knowledge of thematic and taxonomic relations of 15 children of 26 months and 24 children of 34 months. Both age groups were able to identify thematic matches. However, 34-month-olds were able to recognize a wider range of thematic associations than 26-month-olds. (RJC)

Examines a young girl's abridgment of Mara Kay's novel "Masha," focusing on the selection processes she used. Suggests that text selected for the abridgment had personal significance, while less significant or negative text was omitted. Concludes that the experience gave shape and meaning to the girl's own growing up. (MM)

Assembles information about theories of child art into conceptual basis related to interpretation of children's art. General overview of nine theories or models of child art (naive realism, recapitulation, personality, developmental, intellectualist, haptic-visual, perceptual development, perception-delineation model, and author's synthesis) gives…

Examines Robert Fulghum's book, "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten," recommending that all people delve into their own early childhood experiences to better understand the issue. The paper compares the author's early childhood experiences and insights on the value of such experiences to Fulghum's experiences. (SM)

The current trend of hurrying a child's development, as evidenced by the popularity of disposable pants for toilet training, is criticized. The pants frustrate both parents and children and, it is concluded, serve no useful purpose in the toilet-learning process. (LB)

Examined asymmetries in movement behaviors of 36 full-term, newborn infants. The majority of infants had right-biased movement behaviors. Multiple subsystems, rather than a single asymmetric system, appeared to control asymmetric action of different body regions. There were sex differences in asymmetry of distal lower body movement behaviors that…

Assessed 61 nonchronic juvenile offenders and their parents using Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales II. Functional perspectives of family cohesion and adaptability by juvenile offender and one or both parents were associated with higher levels of ego development in offender as measured by Washington University Sentence Completion…

By using play activities, learning centers, and dramatizations, educators can build on children's literature to cross-fertilize across content areas, meet developmental needs, and help preschoolers "open the book" to themselves and their world. (Author/JOW)

Contends that adolescent substance abuse and measures of self-esteem are highly negatively correlated. Research of literature provides inferential conclusion that young child whose self-esteem is not sufficiently nourished will group into adolescent having greater propensity for substance abuse. Discusses construct of self-esteem and examines…

Describes a week of testing 28 second graders. Points out how much classroom time testing consumes, how frustrating it is for teachers, and how emotionally trying it is for young students and their families. Maintains that all children operate at different developmental levels in different skills and should not be compared to each other. (MLF)

In this month's Centennial Essay, Harvard's renowned child analyst and author tells how he learned to listen and to learn from the children he met in his professional role. (MLF)

The relations between the meanings of verbs and the syntactic structures in which they appear were investigated in 5 experiments involving approximately 156 college students (most attended the University of Pennsylvania). Findings support the view that the syntax of verbs is a regular, although complex, projection from their semantics. (SLD)

The importance of actions, results, and instruments in the development of verb concepts was examined in four studies. Studies are discussed in terms of theory and research on conceptual development, word learning strategies, and the semantic organization of nouns and verbs. (PCB)