Discussions regarding young children and secure schools often focus on children's physical safety and external stressors such as chaotic families, dangerous neighborhoods, and terrorism. Less attention is given to the emotional security of children in schools, a necessary prerequisite to learning and healthy development. The most effective way to…

This article focuses on the remarkable story of a deeply disorganized child, Rachel, and her experience in foster care with Janet and Paul Mann, founders of the Children's Ark. Rachel and her mother were referred to the Ark, an innovative intervention center for at-risk families, when Rachel was 10 months old. After 11 months at the Ark, Rachel…

The authors examine the way in which people with intellectual disability (ID) handle death and mourning, and note that the way in which death and bereavement are being experienced depends--among other things--upon the intellectual and socio-emotional age of the individual. The authors used the theories formulated by Piaget (cognitive development),…

The study of neurobehavioral development focuses on the mechanisms through which the experiences of an individual influence the ontogeny of brain circuits that ultimately control complex functions, such as social engagement, mood and emotional regulation and cognition. Advances in experimental approaches and technologies provide opportunities to…

This report summarizes results from three large-scale reviews of research on the impact of social and emotional learning (SEL) programs on elementary and middle-school students--that is, programs that seek to promote various social and emotional skills. Collectively the three reviews included 317 studies and involved 324,303 children. SEL programs…

This paper presents a brief overview of the array of neuroscience research as it applies to play and child development. The paper discusses research showing the importance of play for brain growth and child development, and recommends that families, schools and other social and corporate institutions rearrange their attitudes and priorities about…

This study compared home-schooled children to conventionally schooled children in West Virginia. A total of 30 home schooling families and 32 conventionally schooling families with children of 7 to 14 years of age participated in the study. The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales Classroom Edition was used to gather parent perspectives on the social…

This pilot study investigated characteristics of three groups of sixth, seventh, and eighth grade children (total N=15) in West Virginia: (1) gifted children with learning disabilities (LDG), (2) gifted children without learning disabilities, (3) non-gifted children with learning disabilities (LD). Subjects were assessed on measures of higher…

This article describes a workshop designed to dispel the myth of learned helplessness and facilitate people's reintegrating their previously denied power. The approaches used to help students deal with depression are described in detail. (EJT)

Empathy is vital in all the helping professions, as theory, practice, and research indicate. But can it be taught? Can it be learned? What exactly does one do to empathize? This article presents a usable model of empathic behavior--as well as imaginative means of enhancing the capacity to empathize. (Author)

Reports on a portion of a long-term investigation carried out to determine the prognostic significance of newborn behavioral assessments for later development and behavior, in terms of identifying a subpopulation which would be a high risk group. (Author/SDH)

Intended for teachers and administrators, this document provides an annotated bibliography of research since 1960 that deals with effects of grouping elementary school students, below the junior high level, according to their ability. The 34 annotations are arranged in three categories: research concerned with the effects of ability grouping on…

One of the major challenges to early childhood professionals is to effectively deal with separation anxiety and assist children in the transfer from home to other environments. This article summarizes, from a psychoanalytic perspective, the developmental stages of psychological separation, and describes techniques for practitioners for dealing…