Makes a case for a sequential approach to teaching foreign languages middle schools and suggests that in the middle school must encompass both the goals of proficiency and exploration; the integrated exploratory model is more compatible with child development; exploratory can be a launching pad into sequential courses; after an exploratory…

Further examines the reliability of the Developing Understanding of Self and Others Affectivity Assessment Device by increasing the sample size from previous studies, and by including samples for the second, third, and fourth grade. All correlations were in the range of the two previous studies. (JPS)

This literature review examined the congruence between parental estimates and professionals' assessments of the abilities of children with disabilities. Results suggest that there are strong, positive correlations between parental and professional judgments, and that methodology relates to the degree of congruence between parental and professional…

This study of 102 individuals with autism found that the brainstem and cerebellum increased in size with age but were significantly smaller in autistic patients than in controls. Analysis of the speed of development suggests that brainstem and vermian abnormalities in autism were due to an early insult and hypoplasia rather than to progressive…

This study of the relationship between mother-child interactions and children's development for 18 children (ages 20-36 months) with severe visual impairments found that mother-responsive behaviors were positively related to child development, whereas mother-initiated behaviors were either negatively related or not related. (Author/JDD)

Eighty normally hearing children (ages 4 to 8) judged the clarity of sentences that were systematically bandpass-filtered to increase intelligibility. Study of 10 subjects at each age found that children 5 years or older were able to make reliable clarity judgements using paired comparisons or category rating; however, the method of paired…

Presents findings concerning the role of symbolic play. Assumes that symbolic play has seven functions in the child's development: cognitive, creative, ordering, stimulative, social, expressive, and substitutive. Considers play as a phenomenon that prepares children's abilities through symbolic play. (BAC)

Discusses the problems arising from discriminating between childcare and early education. Suggests that children in every setting learn something that has implications for future learning. Funding and support for early education, intervention, or enrichment should build on the existing network of programs of all kinds, with the goal of helping…

Examined developmental effects of bibliotherapy-based classroom guidance curriculum. Students (n=22) in experimental group participated in 12 bibliotherapy-based lessons using titles selected for literary merit; control students (n=20) participated in 12 guidance lessons. Results suggest that use of stories to help students solve problems or…

A clinical psychologist recounts her childhood efforts to develop creatively despite the discouragements of many of the adults in her world. (DB)

The article distinguishes between gifted, creative, and talented and describes child development as involving five "roots," consisting of genetics, bodily nourishment, self-concept, environment, and acculturation. (DB)

This paper analyzes the early life of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) for its implications on early environments which nurture giftedness. The paper notes the close family ties, intellectual models provided by adults, the role of imaginary games, and identification of giftedness by educators. (DB)

Reports on an extensive study conducted with 10- to 12-year-old children in 3 Moscow schools to determine their aesthetic perceptions and comprehension of layers of metaphoric meanings in the Leningrad Theatre for Young Spectators' production of "Bambi." Shows that metaphoric comprehension decreases within this age group, countering the…

Suggests that the study reported in this monograph indicates that the bias toward verbal instead of nonverbal interaction should give way, and avoids the tendency to dichotomize outcomes. Also suggests that scholars who study older children's learning should attend to nonverbal acts, focus on responsibility in learning, and emphasize attention to…

Compared usefulness of Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID)-Mental Scales and Battelle Developmental Inventory (BID) in assessing abilities of infants and toddlers (n=34) from adolescent-parent families. Found that these two instruments cannot be used interchangeably and that one needs to look beyond psychometric data to understand results…