Continuity and intergenerational transmission of representations of attachment were examined in a longitudinal sample of 88 Mexican immigrant mothers and their children who participated in the local intervention group of the Early Head Start Evaluation Study. The authors interviewed mothers with the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) and Parent…

Using data from the National Early Head Start (EHS) Research and Evaluation Project (N = 1851), the current study examined relations among cumulative family and social risk, assessed during infancy and the preschool years, and children's prekindergarten achievement, self-regulatory skills, and problematic social behavior, testing if these…

Studies social play and social and solitary pretend play in well-acquainted toddlers aged 14-38 months in order to describe a sequence of progressively more complex social pretend play forms. Results indicate that social pretend play forms emerge later than comparable solitary pretend and social play forms. (RJC)

In order to examine the development of social pretend skills in the toddler period, social pretend play was observed in same and mixed age dyads. More complex social pretend play was expected in the mixed age than in the same age condition. A second purpose of the study was to compare 5-year-old children's attempts to communicate pretend meanings…

Sex cleavages in toddler and preschool peer groups were investigated in two studies. In the first study, playmate preferences and initiations and responses to friends were examined during the free play of toddlers in day care centers. In the second study, cross-sex friendships in toddlers and preschool children were examined. (PCB)

Social play emerged earlier than social pretend play with a similar structure; the incidence of social pretend play increased with age. Four strategies for integrating pretense into social play were isolated; among them, verbal recruitment and "join" were found to be more effective than imitation or nonverbal recruitment. (Author/RH)

A study investigated the symbolic play development and mother-child interactions between toddlers and their adolescent or mentally retarded mothers. Differences in maternal behaviors were found between the not-at-risk control group and the mentally retarded and adolescent mothers. (JOW)

Are children's same-sex affiliations due to genetically sex-linked behavioral tendencies or are they a result of power and privilege differentials in the larger society that discourage girls from engaging in cross-sex interaction? Sex cleavages in naturally occurring toddler peer groups were investigated by examining playmate preferences and…

The relationships of 441 children with their mother and preschool teacher were assessed and classified in 3 categories. Children in the secure relationship category had more responsive teachers than other children. Children in the ambivalent relationship category had more responsive teachers than children in the avoidant relationship category. (BC)

Observed and analyzed the play of 60 U.S. and Mexican toddlers and their mothers. Found cultural differences in children's pretend play, the mutual involvement of mothers and children in pretend play, the behaviors mothers used to structure play, and mothers' value of children's play. (MM)

A study was conducted to examine continuities and discontinuities in the socialization experiences of toddler-age children attending day care. Interaction between adults and children during socialization episodes was observed in home and day care settings. Parents rated their extent of agreement with the teacher regarding discipline and the extent…

Examines the role of the partner in the development of social pretend play in two related studies. In both studies, toddler age children played with same-age and five-year-old partners. In both studies, two-year-olds engaged in more social pretend play with older than same-age partners. (Author/BB)

Assessed the attachment of 101 toddlers to their mothers and day care teachers by the Strange Situation Procedure or Q-Set measures. Results were consistent with the hypothesis that children's relationships with their parents and day care teachers would show similar attachment classifications. (BC)

Children's attachment to their mother, measured by the Strange Situation procedure, reunion behavior at four years of age, and the Attachment Q-Set, was stable from infancy through preschool. The quality of teacher-child relationships, measured by the Attachment Q-Set, was stable if the teacher remained the same. (BC)

Toddlers' play with care-giving adults, and with toys and peers, was observed and rated in family day care homes. Participants were 55 children, their mothers, and family day care home providers. The quality of the family day care home was assessed. Mothers reported information on family stress, social support, child-rearing attitudes, and…