Noting that disadvantaged communities in South Africa can be empowered by involving parents and communities in the development of preschool education programs, this report presents the achievements of South Africa's Early Childhood Education and Care (educare) programs. Educare aims to develop the young child's potential to be a meaningful part of…

This report summarizes a 3-day symposium held to explore issues surrounding child-to-child sexual behaviors among preschool children. The participants included professionals from a range of fields--education, higher education, therapy, curriculum design, and training. The first part of the symposium involved an open exchange of issues and ideas on…

This paper argues that instructors of child development should use literature to supplement theory and research in their courses. It is argued that literature elucidates psychological concepts with real life examples while deepening students' appreciation for the complexity and diversity of human development. Particularly effective in achieving…

This book is one in the Children's Activity Series of books to promote awareness about health, family life, and cultural diversity for children in kindergarten through third grade. The books in this series are written to enhance an established curriculum, rather than to serve as the curriculum itself. They offer ideas for hands-on activities for…

Methods for investigating the influence of an early developmental process on a later process are discussed. Conventional growth modeling is found inadequate but a general growth mixture model is sufficiently flexible. The growth mixture model allows prediction of the later process using different trajectory classes for the early process. The…

This paper responds to an article by John Bruer that questions the wisdom behind the recent surge of interest in the educational implications of brain research. Bruer is skeptical about brain-based educational practice and policy. This paper argues in favor of the default alternative that knowledge of brain functioning and development can guide…

War play is play with a toy that initiates violence or play that involves the imitation of war. War play can involve: (1) the use of toys based on television cartoon shows to imitate the action in the cartoons; (2) play with replicas of war paraphernalia or manipulatives shaped into guns; and (3) dramatic play. The negative effects on children…

Most infants consume only breast milk or infant formula for the first 4 months, as their digestive systems and jaw and throat muscles are not ready for solid foods. Most healthcare professionals advise starting solid foods between 4 and 6 months of age, when infants can hold their heads up straight when sitting. The first solid food should be…

This document examines the use of measurement tools to evaluate children's psychological development. The first part of the document discusses the identification and quantification of developmental landmarks and the reasons for evaluation. The second part reviews several evaluation instruments. The Ruth Griffiths mental development scales are used…

This book contains the statements made by heads of state or government, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and the executive director of UNICEF during proceedings at the World Summit for Children in New York in September, 1990. Among the 159 delegations participating, 71 were led by heads of state or government. Deliberations focused on…

Two experiments were conducted to investigate how event representation might operate in preschool children's understanding of the temporal terms "before" and "after." The first study, involving 3- and 4-year-olds (a total of 16 of each age) varied the arbitrariness of event sequences. Sixteen stories, each containing five…

Piagetian stages of cognitive development are reviewed, and what teachers of geography skills, particularly map skills, can do to make use of Piaget's theory of child development is discussed. Piaget describes children at four different stages: (1) sensorimotor stage--birth to 2 years, (2) preoperational stage--ages 2-7, (3) concrete operational…

To aid undergraduate students in their initial study of Piaget's theory of intellectual development, students enrolled in a sophomore child development course administered selected tasks to individual subjects in order to verify or disprove results predicted in the theory. Prior to replicating the Piagetian experiments, students were introduced to…

Designed as a handbook for primary grade parent volunteers in Kings County Schools (California), this publication provides information on compensatory education and parent involvement. The following special programs are explained briefly: Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), Title IVB of the ESEA, Senate Bill 90 for…

Traces various behavioral problems in young children to sensory overkill from repetitious auditory and visual television experiences. (MH)