Community violence has emerged as a major risk factor for the development of mental health problems in children and adolescents. The goal of this article is to present an ecological-transactional model of community violence as a conceptual framework for understanding the existing literature and for guiding future research on community violence…

This study obtained multiple measures of three factors (capacity, strategies, and metamemory) hypothesized to cause memory improvement with age among younger (ages 5 to 8) to older (ages 8 to 11) children. Results suggested that fit of the 3-factor model was statistically significantly better than a 1-factor, general memory model for both age…

Argues that a thorough understanding of factors that influence aggression in children cannot be achieved without including behavior genetic studies that allow examination of the effects of shared versus non-shared environment, as well as genes, on aggressive behaviors. Details the growing body of evidence on the genetic effects on aggression.…

Proposes to reexamine the construct of self and its development in Chinese children. Analyzes Chinese children's self-concept in two distinct domains--the domain of learning and the domain of social relations. Demonstrates that Chinese children's self-concept has a strong autonomous component in the context of learning and achievement while…

Discusses children's play in conjunction with intellectual development, language, and social benefits. Suggests that play develops personality, encourages personal relations, stimulates creativity, adds to happiness, and advances learning. Encourages parents and teachers to provide children with richly varied play experiences to promote cognition,…

This article reports the first year results of a pilot study of 21 developmental milestones achieved by 82 visually impaired children in New York City. Some delays in visual-motor activities were found, as well as differences in the sequence of acquiring skills. Children with additional handicaps acquired milestones at a slower rate. (Author/DB)

Looks at three-year-old children's writing samples as a basis to discuss developmental stages in writing. Samples are categorized as scribbling, horizontal scribbling, discrete units, letters, or correct spelling. Practical applications of these stages are presented for teachers. (PCB)

Examines young children's emerging abilities to organize their written language performance under different writing conditions, before they are able to read and write conventionally. (PCB)

This study of the drawings produced by 34 autistic and 33 normal children (age 68-211 months) at the same developmental level found no intergroup differences on fragmentation of geometric design drawings, but significant differences in geometric design overlap and human figure overlap and fragmentation. (JDD)

Parents of highly gifted children are encouraged to use resources found in the work of Leta Hollingworth (1886-1939) as they cope with child-rearing challenges in the areas of emotional needs, discipline, and problems associated with school such as avoiding negative attitudes toward authority. (DB)

Premature academic instruction may undermine a child's learning tendencies or dispositions. Informal small-group interaction can strengthen dispositions and set the context for acquisition of knowledge, skills, and feelings. Teachers should focus on learning goals rather than performance goals. (SH)

The mismatch between young children's learning style and a highly structured school program sometimes causes children to react negatively to school environments. This article contrasts the home learning environment with the school environment and identifies four things parents, teachers, and administrators can do to foster more positive attitudes…

As young people survive childhood cancer at ever-increasing rates, the late effects of treatment that affect growth, development, and cognitive functioning must be considered. This paper describes medical treatment for childhood cancer, long-term survival and general effects of treatment, cognitive late effects of treatment, and educational…

The article reviews the literature on two questions: what is the normal course of creative development, and do peak periods exist during which people are most open to efforts to foster creative abilities. Six specific periods are identified as peak periods of creative growth. (DB)

Examines research on infants who experience risks in the prenatal or perinatal period. Focuses on the evolution of the studies and the knowledge gained over the last three decades, contemporary research efforts and pertinent issues, and directions for future research. (RJC)