This article defines bibliotherapy, offers guidelines for selecting appropriate materials to use to assist gifted students to grow emotionally and socially, notes the crucial nature of teacher-led discussion in helping students interact with the literature, and provides discussion questions and suggested activities for each of six books.…

Examined the effects of thematic fantasy play (TFP) on the perspective-taking of 27 kindergarten children by having their teacher guide them in the reenactment of fairy tales. Results demonstrated that the children exposed to TFP performed significantly higher on measures of perceptual, cognitive, and affective perspective-taking than a control…

Reviews research into the effects of various child care environments on the emotional and intellectual well-being of children. Examines factors of early education group settings that could facilitate a positive learning and emotional climate without detriment to infant-mother attachment. Suggests measures at the home, day-care, and public policy…

This paper reviews common emotional and social needs of gifted children. Two personality self-report instruments, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Murphy-Meisgeier Type Indicator for Children, are suggested for helping students gain self-awareness and self-acceptance, which will enhance their emotional growth toward awareness of others and…

This study examined 236 8-year olds from a state with minimal child care standards in an effort to discover possible differences associated with child care histories. Children with more extensive child care experiences were associated with negative ratings by parents, teachers, and peers. (SH)

Compared adjustment scores among adolescents who differ in both emotional autonomy and perceptions of parental support. Found that, although adolescents who scored high in both emotional autonomy and relationship support reported more internal distress and behavior problems than less autonomous adolescents, they had higher levels of psychological…

Examined infant facial expressions at two, four, and six months of age during face-to-face play and a still-face interaction with their mothers. Contrary to differential emotions theory, at no age did proportions or durations of discrete and blended negative expressions differ; they also showed different patterns of developmental change. (MM)

Necessary developmental tasks concerned with identity development of gifted college women include developing competence, managing emotions, developing autonomy, establishing identity, freeing interpersonal relationships, developing purpose, and developing integrity. These issues may be used as counseling interventions to raise career aspirations.…

Thirteen subjects with autism and 13 with Down's syndrome (ages 5-27) were compared on their ability to respond appropriately to conversational "social scripts" concerning another person's distress. Compared to autistic subjects, subjects with Down's syndrome gave a greater percentage of relevant suggestions and sympathetic comments, and…

Examined the relation between three-year-olds' conversations about feeling states and their ability to recognize emotions at six years. Differences in discourse about feelings were correlated with later ability to recognize emotions. Associations were independent of children's verbal ability and the frequency of talk in the families. (BC)

Describes a competence/risk theory that hypothesizes that people can use personal competence to influence the probabilities of success or failure in an adventure, providing their perceptions are correct. In a series of linked pathways and feedback loops, a model illustrates the impact of a risk-taking activity on the participant's emotional and…

Examined mothers' and preschoolers' emotion talk for age- and gender-related patterns in use of labels and explanations. Found that children used emotion words mainly in labels. Boys' emotion talk increased with age. The youngest girls had more emotion talk than same-age boys. Mothers used more explanations than labels with boys but similar…

Describes how children develop a concept of death, and presents suggestions for classroom experiences to help young children cope with death. Considers children's attendance at funerals and how to answer children's questions about death. Lists 14 children's books about death. (KB)

Proposes a cultural framework for examining socioemotional development of infants and young children across cultures. The framework recommends three distinct yet interrelated units of analysis for research on socioemotional development across cultures: cultural contexts, cultural complexity, and cultural pathways. (JPB)

Describes child and human development as an eco-cultural project. Focuses particular attention to early development of trust and attachment relationships and the age 5-to-7 transition, wherein cultural goals and psychological well-being are achieved despite limited resources and socioeconomic constraints. (JPB)