Introduces research comparing changes in the child rearing practices of employed and nonemployed mothers of four-year-old children. Also discusses the mother's occupational role as it influences the parent's attitudes in child rearing practices. No significant differences were found between the employed and nonemployed mothers on six Child Rearing…

Examines the relationship between developmental placement as a result of preschool and kindergarten developmental testing and children's later cognitive achievement and social-emotional growth. A total of 223 children in Grades two through six were coded as traditional, overplaced, or "Buy a Year" depending on Gesell Screening Test scores and…

A small but significant proportion of preschoolers have imaginary companions who serve many different developmental functions. Prevalence and related demographic and environmental factors surrounding the phenomenon of imaginary companions and implications for health care professionals are discussed. (Author/DST)

Describes four experiments in childhood autism used as research examples in areas of cognition and social skills. An hypothesis which attempts to connect various areas of impairment, nemely, lack of imaginative play, lack of expressive gestures, and inability to predict and understand behavior in others is explored through a specific cognitive…

Comparison of never pregnant teenagers, adolescent and older mothers was undertaken to determine differences on (1) an overall infant development test, (2) a developmental infant abilities test, and (3) first and second year infant abilities test. Findings are discussed in terms of differences in social class and parent child interaction styles.…

Investigated student teacher interactions during video tapes of free play periods with disabled and normal preschoolers enrolled in two preschool programs. Findings suggest that teacher education programs could help adults to overcome stereotypic actions toward special needs children. (Author/DST)

Discusses various issues surrounding inability of individualized reading approach to improve reading ability of poor readers at elementary level. Suggested reasons for failure include school environment, peer pressure, self-concept, and individual reading difficulties. Teachers' role in addressing reading failure in children is considered. (DST)

Examined effects of presentation of a peer-in-need stimulus to preschool children in real versus hypothetical contexts, with results indicating a significantly higher incidence of helping behavior in real situations. Nature of helping response as a preoperational reaction to concrete contextual cues is verified. (Author/DST)

Discusses teacher assurance program implemented by Eastern Washington University Department of Education which guarantees its graduates will perform to classroom expectations. Four evaluative measures are discussed in terms of the teacher education program and students: credibility, student marketability, accountability, and program feedback. (DST)

Speculates about possible future directions for Canadian education and briefly indicates developing conditions that directly challenge the program of the World Organization for Preschool Education. (RH)

The social and play behaviors of toddlers enrolled in two early childhood programs were videotaped and then analyzed with regard to categories of child interaction, play behavior, and adult interaction. (RH)

Aims to (1) identify and define problems faced by preschool day care personnel as they attempted to mainstream one totally blind child into their program and (2) rank problems according to the degree of concern involved adults felt about the problems. (RH)

Reports aspects of a case study of educational politics relating to early childhood education in California. Confirms the complex and political nature of evaluation and lists evaluation dilemmas played out in the policy arena. (RH)

Describes a service to parents that connected those experiencing urgent parenting needs with individuals and agencies capable of providing help. (RH)