Examined aspects of early childhood environment related to developing mathematical concepts in three studies. Found that family day care providers rated math skills as less important than others, but believed skills were acquired the same way. Parents and providers reported similar frequencies for engaging children in math activities. Activity…

Explored possible antecedents of paternal child rearing in middle-class, two-parent, Korean families. Found that fathers reported disciplinary practices similar to those of their own fathers. Fathers reported more nurturance and acceptance/flexibility than grandfathers. Paternal job satisfaction, relationship with own mother, and educational…

Used focus group discussion and classroom observations to compare whether early childhood teachers' reported use of timeout as a discipline method was congruent with classroom behavior. Found that the verbal responses of the five teachers observed were very congruent with what they carried out while teaching. (Author/KB)

Provides impressionistic reflection of how human service agencies in San Jose, California have helped refugee families from war-torn Cambodia and Bosnia. Summarizes some of the lessons learned from working with refugee families. Notes that the experiences have influenced the capacity- building, empowering, and mentoring aspects of a new…

Reports preliminary findings of the first national survey of services to identify and provide specialist support to profoundly deaf infants and young children in England and Wales. Notes that the resources available for early identification of deaf infants and the quality of professional support to promote habilitation is quite variable.…

Investigated possible priming effect of two neuropsychological tests, the Booklet Category Test (BCT) and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Obtained counterbalanced order effects on like-aged sample of 63 South African elementary school students (normally- achieving, low-functioning, learning-disabled). Found a significant effect of set-shifting…

Presents model for major influences on children's gender role socialization: parents, media, school, and peers. Reviews literature on role of peer relationships in development of self concept and perpetuation of gender biases and stereotypes. Concludes that parents should set a positive example of gender fair behavior because children will…

Examined the relationship between language and cognitive development and emotional-behavioral problems (measured concurrently and at a 5- and 17-month follow-up) in 680 nonreferred 4-year-olds from financially-disadvantaged families. Found that language delays were significantly related to emotional-behavioral problems. When cognitive differences…

Explored the perceptions of 13 Taiwanese mothers of 12-month-olds regarding the benefits of parent-infant interaction for development of social competence and parents' role in achieving these benefits. Found that mothers thought parent-infant interactive play contributed to both emotional and social components of social competence. Themes within…

Projective methods were used to explore maternal perception and interpretation of infant's emotional expressions during the third trimester of pregnancy and 3 months postpartum. Results revealed that mothers interpreted infant emotions overwhelmingly in positive terms at both times; findings suggest consistency in maternal interpretation across…

Used discourse analysis to examine outcomes of enriching preschoolers' play with artifacts emphasizing number symbols and to examine aspects of talk significant for early mathematical understanding in classrooms. Found that introducing the artifacts was associated with general increase in talk and activity involving the materials, with evidence…

Describes a federally funded partnership between Northeastern Illinois University and Chicago Public Schools to provide an inner-city family literacy program. Details program components, highlighting use of computers, video technology, and photography as tools to develop literacy and to document progress of parents and children. Notes evaluation…

Evaluated an instructional procedure that focused on reflective problem-solving and used young children's fascination with stars as a starting point to develop their concept of numbers. Found that test group performance on mathematics problem- solving tasks indicated developing understanding of the concept of numbers 1 through 5, compared to that…

Responds to criticisms of Lovaas' treatment methods of children with autism and highlights relevant data presented in Jordan and Jones' (1998) report to the Department for Education and Employment in Great Britain. Discusses approaches of the Higashi method and Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communications Handicapped Children…

Interviewed male preservice teachers, exploring reasons for choosing early childhood and elementary education and their attitudes toward traditional reasons cited for male avoidance of teaching careers. Found most believed their roles would be perceived differently from those of female teachers and that they would have an easier time obtaining a…