Evaluation of 195 normal children (aged 1-5 years), 160 normal children (aged 3-24 months), and 41 autistic children (aged 5-11 years) on the eight psychological variables of the Behavioral Rating Instrument for Autistic and Other Atypical Children indicated certain autistic behaviors are not normal at any stage of development. (Author/CB)

A major problem of physical education programs is the assessment of outcomes. Research makes it clear that physical education programs can affect motor performance positively. Outcomes regarding motor performance, metabolic performance, psychosocial factors, body structure, and cognitive/academic development are reviewed. (MT)

Although most males with a 49,XXXXY karyotype will have significant mental retardation, the case of an affected boy having mild-cognitive and motor delays and age-appropriate adaptive skills at 59 months is presented. Guarded optimism may be justified in affected males demonstrating close to or age-appropriate developmental skills through early…

Argues that a child's early exposure to movement activities promotes a positive self concept. Elaborates that physical education gives training to body and mind as well as providing enjoyment as the child matures. (BSR)

Instructions and illustrations support this discussion of learning activities designed to remediate deficiences and build skills in balance and/or motor skills for mildly handicapped students who may not have access to physical therapy or adaptive physical education. Appropriate for both regular and special classes, activities include arm…

Measures the degree of interdependence in timing between infants' right and left arm movements and between movements of both arms and the onsets of stressed vowels in tape-recorded infant-appropriate speech. (HOD)

Three studies on B. Le Gay Brereton's approach with severely motorically or multiply disabled preschool children are reported. The program focuses on play and suggests that development should be repeated from the point at which it went wrong. Results included small but statistical changes in cognitive skills. (CL)

Computers can be used to help develop physical proficiency in the handicapped student if appropriate software is used. Suggested computer use for various educational purposes includes sports games, assessment, simulation, and accommodation of severe disabilities. (DF)

A study to assess gross and fine motor control within pairs of twins and between twins and singletons found that singletons out-performed twins in motor development. There were no apparent performance differences by sex or between the first- and second-born twins. Research methodology and analysis of data are presented. (DF)

The development of ontogenetic movements--complex, learned skills such as throwing--is greatly influenced by socialization experiences provided by parents. Girls, as well as boys, should be given the opportunity to learn and develop these skills during preschool years. (PP)

This article emphasizes the importance of studying prelinguistic communication in infants. Motor development and environmental influences are seen to be important aspects of linguistic development. The possible link between sensorimotor activity and the syntactic structure of language development needs further exploration. (MS)

This study investigated the effects of a creative movement program on the motor creativity of Taiwanese preschool children, hypothesizing that there would be no significant different in motor creativity between children participating in the creative movement program and those participating in a control group. The intervention group completed a…

The most influencial factors on physical performance appear to be environmental and not genetic as evidenced by the results of the present ethnic sampling. (Author)

Teachers are confronted with the practical problem of deciding how large correlations should be between individual differences in motor skills in order to be taken seriously and influence and/or be the stimulus for modifying or drastically changing their current teaching practice. (Author)

Using a yoked control procedure, kindergarteners either produced or observed interactions between pairs of toys. Children who performed rather than observed remembered the pairings over time. (ST)