Provides several contextual and theoretical frameworks through which to make connections between the articles in this special issue, which examine global trends affecting children and their families in rapidly changing environments. Discusses how cross-national perspectives on issues affecting children and their families are becoming increasingly…

Defines the elements of play, illuminating its central role in young children's learning and development. Focuses on how play experiences contribute to children's independence in negotiating, its role in keeping children involved, and the play-reality distinction. Offers suggestions to teachers for facilitating and supporting children's play,…

Discusses how the behavior of Montessori professionals provides a model for the young children with whom they interact. Asserts that the most critical factor in creating an environment for young children is the attitudes of the adult working with them. Discusses the importance of transition periods and highlights toileting issues during…

Evaluated applicability of family stress model of economic hardship for understanding economic influences on child development among African American families with a 10- or 11-year-old child. Found that economic hardship positively related to economic pressure in families, and to emotional distress of caregivers, which in turn damaged the…

Used data from NICHD Study of Early Child Care to assess whether regulable features of child care homes affected children's development. Found caregivers' education and recency of training related to learning environment and caregiving sensitivity. More positive caregiving related to compliance with age-weighted group-size cut-offs. Caregiver…

Parents (n=535) of children with special needs were surveyed about four domains of infant mental health: attachment, behavior, stress/coping, and regulation/adaptation. Parents wanted help especially with behavior and regulation/adaptation issues. They rated all learning techniques as acceptable but preferred techniques available in the home.…

A longitudinal study of 39 infants who engaged in stereotyped or self-injurious behaviors that were served in early intervention programs found these behaviors increased and declined over age more slowly than in typical babies. Head-banging seemed to be related to tantrums, whereas eye-poking developed early and seemed to be self-stimulatory.…

In response to a paper on risk and resilience models in learning disabilities research, this article supports the original author's clarification of conceptual inconsistencies and emphasizes two mediating factors within the third wave of resilience research: the critical role of emotions and the importance of reciprocity in relations with both…

Describes essential concepts related to the root of defining the child's motivation and the process of Montessori education. Emphasizes the "horme" (inner urge), normalization, the prepared environment, the Four Planes of Development, cosmic education, and the cosmic task in both natural and human context, and the new potential of the adolescent…

Combines insights from ecological research and Montessori theory and practice to portray the unfolding of childhood in natural places. Suggests that children's manipulation of the landscape results in optimal creative involvement. Maintains that the act of finding favorite places in all weather, combined with a positive role model, leads to…

This article describes two studies that examined the concurrent and predictive validity of the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Developmental Profile (CSBS DP), a measure for identifying children less than 24 months old who are at risk for communication disorders. Findings support the use of prelinguistic predictors and the important…

Reflects on how the author has contributed to improving social policy through research by asking good questions, using best methods, and seeing and taking advantage of opportunities. Specifically describes her research, especially relating to children and poverty, and focuses on the designing of research to inform social policy. (SD)

A study involving teachers of eight children with severe autism found they interpreted many gestures, body movements, and facial expressions as if these were forms of communication. Observation data indicate some of the communicative forms identified by the teachers were associated with the communicative functions that they specified. (Contains…

Data from 278 children (ages 18-35 months) were used to norm the Language Development Survey (LDS) and the Child Behavioral Checklist. Vocabulary scores increased markedly with age, were higher in girls, and were modestly correlated with socioeconomic level. Correlations between LDS scores and checklist problem scores were low. (Contains…

Babies and young children learn through extensive experimenting and by being encouraged, unknowingly, by parents to use their multiple intelligences. Later, children are forced to conform to the narrow intelligence valued by the formal education system; those who can not adapt drop out. By using multiple intelligences, we access a greater portion…