In a significant work, "Metaphor in educational discourse", Cameron has suggested that we study metaphor as "prosaics" (i.e. as a feature of mundane talk). In this paper, by means of some brief examples, we point to instances of such talk in the setting of preschool. We also discuss opportunities for learning that such talk could offer children,…

The objective of this research was learning about the chosen aspects of self-knowledge in 8-year-old children, evoked through self-presentation of the public and private self. The issues considered dealt with particular, significant features of "personal narrative" analysed through both the content and the form of the self-presentation utterance.…

Individual differences in temperament and personality influence children's development of self-regulation, social relationships, and adaptation within varied contexts. For young children with disabilities and/or family poverty, early school experiences provide both significant challenges and opportunities. In this study, teachers rated the…

Describes kindergarten children's oral and written language behaviors while operating a computer. Stages of computer language play and children's experimentation with speech and writing specific to the computer also are discussed. (AS)

Based on a longitudinal study of three children from birth, argues that children experiment with two dimensional representation much earlier than is commonly thought. Interaction between figurative and action modes of representation is described. Suggests symbolizations based on movement and time as well as configuration. (Author/AS)

Discusses issues related to the adoption revelation process and the two interrelated goals of telling and understanding. Evidence indicates developmental changes in the way children understand this family status. Distinction between "working adoption vocabulary" and true understanding of adoption is made. Provides guidelines concerning adoption…

Findings of a survey of all preschool institutions in Britain circa 1975 are discussed with respect to (1) geographical distribution; (2) attendance; (3) characteristics of attending children; (4) center characteristics; (5) parental involvement; and (6) outside professional support. Appended materials discuss issues of classifying the various…

Incidence of self-scratching injuries were examined in 300 newborns divided into subject groups based on birth weight, gestational age, Apgar score, mode of delivery, and the presence or absence of delivery complications. Injuries were attributed to normal neonatal movements; degree of injuries may reflect the maturity and physical activity of the…

Investigates the maintenance of attention in classroom settings in three groups of children: (1) normal; (2) Down Syndrome; and (3) non-Down Syndrome mentally handicapped. Tasks involving visual and auditory distraction were used, and results were compared with teacher ratings of distractability. (Author/RH)

A total of 14 women recorded fetal movements during one week of their pregnancies, and Brazelton Neonatal Behavorial Assessment Scale exams were performed on the infants during their first week of life. Correlations were computed between fetal activity and neonatal behavior. (Author/RH)

Investigates the evolution of specific lexical and syntactical clues and the recurrence of various semantic fields in mothers' spontaneous speech to their infants. Content of mothers' speech was related to age in newborn to 10-month-old children. (Author/RH)

Results indicate that preschool children are capable of making moral judgments in both apology-restitution and guilt-innocence test contexts. Age and sex are significantly related to both moral judgment measures, while intelligence and parent occupation are unrelated to both measures. (Author/RH)

This review focuses on a classification of the concept of obesity, childhood growth patterns, current diagnostic procedures, physiological and psychological implications, etiology, environmental influences, and the special needs of the obese child. Obesity is viewed as a medical condition requiring medical and educational interventions. (Author/RH)

The Play Rating Scale was developed to observe young children's behaviors in four different areas of play: physical, block, manipulative, and dramatic. In each area, observations focus on frequency, ability, and creativity in communicating ideas; social levels of participation; and leadership capability. A total of 2,400 three-, four- and…

Reviews recent research on: (1) the causes of childhood stress; (2) ways in which teachers can help; (3) available resources concerning children's stress; and (4) coping techniques of resilient children. (RJC)