Available evidence suggests that early language intervention is effective when designed to meet the needs of the individual child. Intervention should begin when risk or predisposing factors so indicate or when significant delays are present. Intervention should respect the child's developmental level in relevant areas and should address…

To test predictions regarding the attentional capacity requirements of Piaget's stage of concrete operations, a battery of concrete operational tasks and two measures of attentional capacity were administered to 120 first-, second-, and third-graders. Findings concern class inclusion, transitivity of length and weight, and multiplication of…

The study identified communicative patterns of preschool children (N=11) with handicaps (Down's Syndrome, specific language impairments, and autism). Down's Syndrome children were like normal children of the same language stage on all parameters whereas autistic children scored outside the normal range on all but one parameter. (Author/DB)

Mental test data cited by H. T. Epstein as supporting his theory that new concepts should be taught during periodic spurts in childhood intellectual development (at 3-10 months; and 2-4, 6-8, 10-12 or 13, and 14-16 or 17 years) are reanalyzed. It is found that the data do not substantiate Epstein's conclusions. (TJH)

Spontaneous language samples from 15 Mexican-American monolingual Spanish-speaking children between the ages of two and five were analyzed for the acquisition sequence of 10 morphemes: demonstratives, articles, copulas, and the regular present indicative; followed by irregular present indicative, regular preterite indicative, plurals, possessive…

Describes the importance of music, movement, creative dramatics, and art in the early childhood curriculum. Discusses the relation of symbols and symbolic systems to young children's cognitive development and to the ability to communicate. Summarizes the reasons for including the arts in a comprehensive curriculum. (RJC)

Discusses communication with children about sexual abuse. Topics discussed include the principles of good communication, developmental parameters, the context of talking about abuse, the reliability of children as witnesses, and the setting for communication. (RJC)

The article describes two approaches, based on the ideas of Jerome Bruner, to helping gifted students handle the social-emotional tasks involved in actualizing their abilities. One approach stresses developmental principles of Bruner while the other applies Bruner's principles to personal and group empowering. (DB)

Examined whether children differentiate or confuse the domains of folk biology and folk psychology. Children and adult subjects were asked whether the animals depicted in pictures possessed certain biological and psychological properties. Results indicated that by kindergarten, notions of folk psychology and folk biology are sufficiently…

This longitudinal investigation charted the course of cognitive and language development from the prelinguistic period to multiword productions in 19 typically developing toddlers and 4 toddlers who were subsequently identified as having a late onset of expressive language. Three different developmental profiles were identified, and predictors of…

Examines research into the various factors affecting the frequency and complexity of dramatic play. Lists and elaborates on those factors, which include the child's maturity; social and cultural settings; teacher intervention in play; children's individual differences; children's familiarity with and security in play surroundings; and presence or…

This article evaluates the "Frames, then Content" hypothesis for speech acquisition, which sees babbling as a direct result of producing syllabic "frames" by rhythmic mandibular oscillation with little of the "content" seen under mandible-independent control. Analysis of 6,659 utterances of 6 normally developing…

Provides a basis from which to critically examine contemporary identity research, by offering a definition of identity, a constructive criticism of the subject approach, and an empirical approach to studying sense of identity. The empirical approach is based on conceptually sound ideas and leads to important questions about identity modes and the…

Notes that early care and education professionals interact with many adults, and that the quality of these interactions can be central to the effectiveness of their role. Lists resources for developing effective adult communication skills. (ET)

Examines toddler friendships in a qualitative study of four toddler friendship dyads using Rizzo's (1989) dimensions of friendship. Suggests that toddlers engage in more complex relationships than previously thought. Also presents a developmental theory of friendship. (DR)