Argues that continuous training is important for improving the quality of day-care provision. Social learning theory is used to examine David A. Kolb's experiential learning model as an approach to training day-care providers. Concludes that attention must also be given to the creation of conditions under which experiential learning can be…

Presents initial results of a three-and-a-half year study on early childhood singing development. Empirical data were gathered through longitudinal study of 200 5-year olds and comparative study of 600 children ages 3 to 12. Results from five-year-old sample included a general tendency for vocal pitch to be lower than pitch stimuli. (AJH)

Presents overview of emerging field of early childhood special education in China. Discusses classification and prevalence of special needs children, service delivery options, and early intervention programs. Examines curricula for special needs preschoolers, preparation of special educators, and parent involvement. Calls for increase in early…

Studied the effect of child-adult ratio on communication patterns in six Swedish day-care centers. Detailed records of verbal interactions were studied in group for which ratio was dramatically changed. Found that high child/adult ratio leads to increased adult-initiated monologs and decreased child-initiated communication. (AJH)

Discusses preschool staff training, focusing on Europe generally and Sweden in particular. Examines roles of staff members and relative importance of care and education. Argues that training can have both positive and negative effects. Explores whether training programs should be broad or specific, concluding that they should have a wide…

A 2-year study examined writing skills development of 11- and 12-year olds with unlimited access to word processors. Samples of the 22 subjects' narrative writing were compared with samples from a parallel class that used hand writing methods. Results indicated that the children using word processors produced better quality writing than the…

Studied how early treatment affected the development of a sample of 30 Down syndrome babies incorporated into the study at different ages. Found that development quotients descended significantly at 18 months of age as the period in treatment shortened. (AJH)

Discusses criteria of young children's dramatic play and various definitions of pretend play characteristics. Delineates differences and similarities between dramatic play and drama. Concludes that the term "dramatic play" can cover all kinds of pretend play, including symbolic, representational, imaginative, fantasy, thematic, make-believe, and…

Thirty-nine boys in classes for students with behavioral disturbances were given questionnaires on trait anxiety, social anxiety, empathy, depression, and self-esteem, while teachers rated their aggression. Results showed that anxiety and empathy scores were not correlated with aggression, while social anxiety was positively correlated with trait…

Reviews some of the various early childhood program models that include the speech-language pathologist in service delivery, including the McKay Integrated Preschool model, which focuses on developmentally appropriate practices (as outlined by the National Association for the Education of Young Children) and "best practices" (as accepted by the…

Discusses implications for emergent literacy of a study of children two to three years old that examined how age and differing mnemonic cues are related to problem-solving strategies. The study found a transitional stage between older children's symbolic problem solving and younger children's reliance on trial and error. Suggests ways to…

Assessed the social support networks and needs satisfaction of 300 secondary school students of low- and high-caste families in Orissa, India. Found that while children from advantaged sociocultural environments have healthier and more enriching family climates than children from disadvantaged sociocultural environments, the latter group had a…

A total of 32 3-month-old infants were carried by their mothers in a soft infant carrier designed to place the infants facing either inward or outward. A within-subject comparison found that when infants were carried facing in, they spent significantly more time sleeping, while infants carried facing out were more active. (MDM)

This study examined the numeracy behavior of children in two nursery schools in Britain. Videotaped observations and field notes from children's free play sessions revealed that teacher intervention strategies (resource enhancement and thematic focusing) had a positive impact on the children's numeracy development. (MDM)

This study examined the effects of perceived parenting style (overly protective versus a warm and loving environment) on the scholastic achievement of 986 Dutch adults age 18-30 years. Retrospective and longitudinal data suggested that respondents with overprotective parents drop out more frequently and have a lower level of educational attainment…