Explores the meanings of early childhood education and depicts the general background of early childhood practices in Hong Kong. Examines curriculum issues in kindergarten illustrated by stories about the teaching of an inservice kindergarten teacher in Hong Kong. Analyzes recent reform proposals for the Hong Kong education system, using the four…

Examined perspectives of Hong Kong parents, primary school teachers, and children regarding transition to primary schools either with an attached preschool or serving neighborhood preschools. Found that "settling in" difficulties were overcome after 1 or 2 months. Nearly all children preferred the primary school by the mid-October interview. By…

This study used pedometry and the Children Activity Rating Scale (CARS) to investigate physical activity among 3- to 5-year-olds in Hong Kong preschools. Findings indicated that older children were more active than younger ones; boys were more active than girls. Older children in the rural school with larger outdoor play space were more active…

This project developed a motor performance instrument for a motor performance award scheme for kindergartners to be used by the Hong Kong Childhealth Foundation. Findings indicated that boys outperformed girls on agility and throwing. Girls performed better than boys on static balance. A marked improvement in agility was noted at age 5.5 years,…

This study investigated whether kindergartners would advocate sharing toys equally across situations or on the basis of recipients' characteristics, and whether each group member would be counted as one unit for allocation across situations. Findings indicated that kindergartners tended to allocate more blocks to a younger child than to a same-age…

Examined relations between Hong Kong and English mothers' socialization goals and childrearing practices and their impact upon preschool peer competence. Found significant correlations between socialization toward filial piety and authoritarian practices, and valuing socioemotional development and authoritative parenting for both groups. Chinese…

This study examined the perceptions of teachers and parents of preschoolers in Hong Kong regarding what constitutes thinking skills, the importance of thinking skills in children's lives, strategies they use to foster thinking skills in young children, and their perceived roles in facilitating thinking skills. Responses revealed the need for more…

Describes how the field dependence independence dimension of cognitive style affects teachers' instructional behaviors and students' learning behaviors, and how interaction of teachers' and students' cognitive styles creates different learning environments. Discusses matching alternatives, focusing on identical cognitive style matching and…

Examines recent trends in early childhood education practice: the education of all children in inclusive classes, the management of vertical and horizontal transitions, the emergence of early childhood education and care programs, the development of school-family-community partnerships, the emphasis on language learning and emergent literacy, the…

Presents music-enhanced kinesthetic visualization therapeutic methods to assist young children in coping with problems and to enhance their development. Highlights results from 9 therapy sessions over 2 months with 6 third graders that illustrate positive growth in emotional, social, and motor development. Shows how organized intersemiotic motoric…

This retrospective study examined play memories from childhood to adulthood of 478 university students between ages 20 and 62 as exhibited in drawings of play memories and questionnaire responses. The study focused on the role of the physical environment and place identity in play memories and individual identity development. Findings showed that…

Examined the relationship between emotions and the autobiographical narratives of 3- to 5-year-olds. Found that the expression of emotions congruent to events in a laboratory scenario involving separation of two friends was not related to narrative content apart from the specific separation event. Narratives were longer and emotional content more…

Examined qualitative characteristics of teacher-child interaction and how they are related to preschoolers' perceptions of self and peers. Found that girls spent more time interacting with teachers than boys, and had more cooperative and positive interactions with teachers than did boys. Found that the quality of teacher-child interaction was…

This study investigated 100 Greek nursery school teachers' views on children's transition to nursery school and the difficulties children face during adjustment. Findings indicated that although 70 percent of teachers reported 1 to 4 "difficult" children, problems were attributed primarily to family and social environments. Findings highlighted…

Details an investigation of language development and subsequent readiness to learn of preschoolers in a disadvantaged Griqua community in South Africa. Notes that preschoolers revealed a relative lack of verbal fluency, associative reasoning, and relational thinking skills, and had a restricted vocabulary. Argues that inadequate language…