This study investigated the amount, quality, and persistence of spontaneous repetitive play and alternative types of play with 28 children (half with Down syndrome). Down-syndrome children engaged in more repetitive activity, though the quality of play was similar for both groups. Results suggest that repetitive play may serve the same…

Presents an intellectual view of transcendence in relation to the widening of consciousness. Indicates that the spiritual beginnings of life establish and integrate the human personality, which, when connected to a vital center, gives a fundamental point of reference. (Author/KB)

Reviews Cannella's book which questions assumptions of early-childhood education and child development. Asserts that children develop in a progressive, stage-related fashion that blends with adulthood rather than being separate from it. Considers the quality of the theoretically rich investigation and reconceptualization of early education. (JPB)

Interviews with 48 participants aged 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, and 13-14 and with 159 aged 5-6, 9-10, 15-16, and 18-29 showed that younger children have different definitions of bullying and lack social and assertiveness skills, which may explain the age decline in bullying reports. (SK)

One of a series of letters to parents of children with developmental apraxia of speech (DAS), this letter discusses issues and current thinking about the nature and causes of the disorder. These include the idea that DAS is a disorder of overall language development or that DAS is a problem of the "motor-programming" system for speech.…

Eight low-functioning and non-verbal children with autism were presented with a modified version of the "still face" paradigm in an investigation of their expectancies concerning human social behavior. Results indicated the children were unable to form a generalized expectancy for social contingency in human beings with whom they have not yet had…

Presents five questions to consider before making a decision about a child's kindergarten placement. The questions focus on how mature the child is, what the pediatrician and teacher say, whether the child likes to learn, whether the child is large or small for his/her age, and what other families do. (SM)

This study compared parent reports of sleep behaviors of 38 children with autism or pervasive developmental disabilities with those of children with mental retardation alone, in special education but not retarded, or typically developing children. Findings indicated that parent perception of children's sleep difficulties and sleep quality was…

Discusses a new, informational-based cybernetic conception of the early development of child consciousness. Suggests a solution to the fundamental problem of formulating and creating the optimal cognitive preconditions of successful child-computer interaction, and analyzes some negative aspects of using intelligent computer and communications…

Reviews the empirical literature on the stability of sociometric categories and discusses four conceptual issues related to the stability of sociometric status. (JPB)

Explores perspectives on assessment suggested by different interpretations of L. Vygotsky's concept of the zone of proximal development (ZPD). One approach considers it possible to measure ZPD as an individual trait with some stability across instructional settings. A second approach suggests that assessment intervenes in the ZPD created by a…

Trial-by-trial strategy assessments and a microgenetic design were used to examine the learning of rules for solving balance scale problems by 70 4- and 70 5-year olds. Developmental differences in learning that emerged seemed to reflect both distal and proximal influences. Encoding and initial rule use were related to different learning process…

Reviews Corsaro's work on the shift toward sociological approaches to research on children. Notes that the book fills a need for textbook on the sociology of childhood; documents the need for concern about children's well-being; presents a new analytical framework for the sociological study of children and of childhood; and challenges traditional…

Observations and interviews were conducted of 36 older adult volunteers in preschool classrooms. Volunteers brought a familial dimension to the setting and modeled behaviors for children. Their styles were not consistent with professional standards but complemented those of early childhood educators. (Contains 25 references.) (SK)

This study evaluated figure drawings of 28 persons with Williams syndrome, 28 with mixed etiologies, and 28 with Down syndrome. Human figures from participants with Williams syndrome were no more deviant than their counterparts, nor did they show "local-global" differences. Findings support a developmental, rather than deviant,…