This study evaluated the efficacy of a preschool mathematics program based on a comprehensive model of developing research-based software and print curricula. Building Blocks, funded by the National Science Foundation, is a curriculum development project focused on creating research-based, technology-enhanced mathematics materials for pre-K…

This study examined the characteristics of the child's social network as it changes within the preschool period. Of particular interest is how the social network changes as the child moves from a more home-centered existence at 3 years to a more school-centered existence at 6 years of age. Also of concern is the effect of sex and socioeconomic…

This study investigated the effect of the administration of frequent and infrequent probe lists on generalization with four articulation disordered children (ages 3:10 to 5:8). Results indicated that frequency of probe list administration did not produce any predictable effect on the extent of generalization or the occurrence of a practice effect.…

The reactivity of normal preschool children's peer praising behavior to observer presence was investigated during baseline and intervention conditions. Evaluation of an intervention package designed to increase peer praising suggested reactivity to observation during intervention. Results have implications for evaluation of internal validity of…

Type A behaviors were observed in a group of 48 preschool children in different free-play and competitive situations. Results are consistent with other findings on type A behavior in preschool children and suggest that the behavioral dimensions of type A (competitiveness and impatience-aggression) may emerge as early as the preschool years,…

Communicative adjustments of nonhandicapped preschool children addressing developmentally delayed companions were evaluated for their effectiveness and appropriateness. Behavior-request episodes in which initial failure had occurred were analyzed, and sequences of interactions were tracked within episodes until some form of resolution was…

Examines the relation of preschoolers' self-attributions about their prosocial behaviors to frequency of prosocial responding. Attempts to determine if different types of prosocial behaviors are associated with different configurations of moral judgment, self-attributions, and social behaviors. Classroom observations of 44 preschoolers were made…

Assessed contributions of familiarity, prior experience, and age to frequency and degree of social participation of preschoolers. Normative analysis of group differences indicated that sex, age, prior peer-group experience, and familiarity did not interact and that all of them independently affected 3- and 4-year-old preschoolers' social play.…

Speech-action coordination in 100 three and four year olds was measured according to a modified version of Wozniak's hammering-board task. Four instructional conditions (instructional, demonstration, vocalization, no vocalization) were presented in a numerical task ("Hit four times") and in two spatial tasks: three-color ("Hit red,…

Move sequence analysis revealed that, when presented with problems having subgoals difficult to order, 40 preschoolers between 45 and 70 months of age (1) tended to avoid backup; (2) were sensitive to incremental progress toward a goal; and (3) searched moves ahead for a goal. None of several indices of performance were reliably correlated with…

Standard or enhanced Blissymbols, designed to represent familiar actions, attributes, and objects, were shown to 20 3 year olds, who guessed their meaning. The number of their guesses that referred to the enhancements was twice as great as the number that referred to the standard Blissymbol base. (Author/JDD)

The study with 21 preschool children found that children receiving a 12-week assessment-based instructional physical education program made significant gains on 6 fundamental motor skills when compared to a control group who received only supervised recess. (Author/DB)

Investigates whether patient animacy affected the acquisition of the passive construction of syntax of 32 children aged two-five years. Results indicate that children who were taught the passive with animate patients produced more passives in the teaching phase than did comparable children who received inanimate patients. (RJC)

Describes two studies of young children's ability to identify single and combined elements in response to music activities. Reports that children were better able to identify single than multiple elements. Concludes that children's ability to identify elements in their singing develops sooner than the ability to focus on elements in music they…

The study, with 57 children (ages 3-6) enrolled in 3 Head Start classes, demonstrated that short-term, large-group basic concept instruction combining direct instruction with interactive and incidental teaching techniques resulted in significantly improved scores on the Boehm Test of Basic Concepts-Revised. (Author/DB)