Critically reviews old and recent research on African American father absence, calling for a paradigmatic shift that emphasizes the value of investigating the effects of father absence as part of a transactional process. Views father absence as a stressor that can potentially give rise to additional stressors that can increase childhood risks for…

Whether a developmental dissociation exists between direct and indirect tests of picture memory was studied using 29 second graders and 29 sixth graders given a 1-day retention interval. Sixth graders performed better than second graders when memory was tested directly, but the performance of both groups was comparable when memory was tested…

Discusses roles that parents and teachers can perform to facilitate children's interactions with computers. Highlights include: (1) designing computer environments, including learner control, learning activities, and relating computer experiences to other learning processes; (2) adult interactions with children; and (3) observation and feedback…

This article discusses ways that racism affects child development, the historic racial experiences and reaction to them that has made it difficult for society to address racism, and the implications of racism and its history for the preparation and practice of early childhood professionals. (IAH)

It is proposed that the identification and description of students with communication problems requires assessments in four domains: (1) linguistic ability; (2) cognitive ability; (3) social skill; and (4) pragmatic competence. Evidence from research on individuals with mental retardation and other developmental disorders is presented. (SLD)

Presents examples of unique contributions of individuals at private foundations to the emergence and growth of scientific research on child and adolescent development. Discusses specific leaders of the Carnegie Foundation and the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial Fund to demonstrate how influential individuals can be in determining major…

Elementary schools generally expect similar achievement levels of children who are 12 months apart in age at the kindergarten level. Suggests 11 steps to apply practices to primary grades that are common in working with younger children that allow for the normal variation in development that exists among children. (MLF)

Discusses the federal government's role in educational research and development, in particular, the capacity of the Office of Educational Research and Improvement. Considers how the federal government's capacity to support the development, dissemination, and implementation of education-related knowledge can be significantly enhanced by incremental…

This field study suggests that preschoolers' social play should be viewed as a developmentally expanding repertoire of skills and that the performance of the skills is a function of the expectations of the preschool environment (school philosophy and practice). Subjects were 54 Canadian preschoolers, aged 4 and 5. (IAH)

Examined 42 maritally supported, 43 maritally distressed, and 32 divorced parents and their clinic children (aged 3-7) to assess the relationship of marital support, conflict, or divorce to clinic parents' perception of child adjustment, parenting behaviors, and child conduct problems. Results indicated significantly more child behavior problems…

Reports on a cross-cultural study of expectations about developmental timetables for young children held by infant and preprimary teachers in Amherst, Massachusetts, and Pistoia, Italy. Findings indicate that teachers' expectations are influenced by culture, as well as child development training and experience with children. (BB)

Discusses the levels at which fathers become involved with their children and the factors that influence their involvement. Also describes a Dad's Day Program at the University of Maryland's Center for Young Children. (BB)

The National Child Care Staffing Study explores the effect of teachers and teaching conditions on the caliber of center-based child care in the United States. The study raises concerns about the quality of services children receive, the education of staff, the work environment, low teachers' wages, and staff turnover. (BB)

Describes 10 years of curriculum innovation in a primary school, with special emphasis on the process of the innovation. Draws general conclusions which could also apply to secondary and tertiary education. (RJC)

Presented are the rationale and varied possibilities for collaboration between medical personnel and educators. A model for such collaboration is the Child Development Project at Boston City Hospital (Massachusetts), a project which provides intervention services for children, from birth to 5 years, with developmental delays and disturbances.…