This document reports on the Southwest (Region VI) Child Development Associate (CDA) assessment program during the 1973-74 and 1974-75 school years. Activities conducted through the office of the regional coordinator of CDA assessment are listed. An assessment system was developed and implemented to meet three needs: (1) to screen and rank CDA…

Piaget, in describing the sequence of classificatory development, describes class inclusion as composed of two processes; hierarchical classification and post-whole comparisons. In the experiment reported here, elementary school children, trained in the concept of sets in first grade mathematics were given a task where they were required to assess…

This primer is designed to provide an introduction to evaluation and its potential value in assisting staffs and parents to provide high quality child development programs for young children. A discussion of two types of evaluation (summative and formative) is followed by a step-by-step program for formative evaluation which includes (1) making a…

This book presents the philosphical, psychological, and educational ideas of Maria Montessori. Chapters deal with: (1) the contribution of Montessori's ideas to philosophy, education, science, and child development; (2) the relationship of the Montessori materials to a child's intellectual, emotional and social development; (3) Montessori's view…

The Maternal Role Preparation project utilizes an occupational therapy approach to increasing maternal competence in first-time mothers. The four-session program covers topics concerning infants (attachment, sensory systems, developmental abilities) and mothers (the mothering role, physiological changes after childbirth, physical and psychological…

Examines differential effects of regulative and interpersonal contexts, together with sex of the parent, on perceptions and role playing responses of children. Indicates that both boys and girls, even aged five and six, have role expectations for parents that allow fathers to talk more and exert more power than mothers, especially in regulative…

Discussion implications of new information technologies for elementary school children highlights compatibility of formats and content; children's capacities; how technology shapes responses; the use of technology to equalize educational opportunities; and the integration of technology into elementary school curricula. (16 references) (LRW)

The experience of siblings of a child with a life-threatening illness may be seen at the juncture of the following perspectives: (1) the family system; (2) a focus on living rather than on dying; and (3) a view toward positive adaptation rather than toward psychopathology. The most critical focus is on the sibling-patient relationship itself. (BJV)

Siblings as teachers and therapists are viewed from the following perspectives: (1) within the context of the family system; and (2) as a distinct dyadic relational system. Both possibilities and limitations of sibling helping are discussed. (Author/BJV)

Seven difficult developmental phases for parents are colic, awakening at night, separation anxiety, normal exploratory behavior, normal negativism, normal poor appetite, and toilet training resistance. Principles of behavior modification and alternatives to physical punishment are given for each phase as part of the treatment plan for the…

In this discussion of Fritz Redl's model of ego dysfunction in disturbed children, tasks the mature ego must accomplish are described, such as frustration tolerance, temptation resistance, realism about rules and routines, and exposure to competitive challenges. The model's educational applications involve assessment of discipline problems,…

Examines relations among early social and familial experience, social problem-solving skills, and social competence in the classroom, in sample of 46 children, aged four and five years, from economically distressed backgrounds. Finds family experience predictive of both social competence and problem solving. (Author/RWB)

Supports B. Plowden and David Elkind's rationale for developmental early childhood education that considers children's unique learning modes. Describes four program elements: opportunities for developmental tasks, teachers' knowledge of children's development, concrete learning experiences, and appropriate setting. Discusses curriculum…

A four-and-a-half-year longitudinal experiment reconsidered the contribution of organic impairment to the genesis of mild mental retardation among disadvantaged children. It was hypothesized that nonoptimal perinatal conditions might result in deficits that increase a child's vulnerability to environmental risk factors. Study results supported the…

Even as children, some individuals cope remarkably with stressful situations. They are active and know how to seek adult support. Research suggests that their strong personalities are rooted in part in the treatment they receive as infants, but also that schools can effectively help deprived children to become well-adjusted adults. (KH)