The parent of a cerebral palsied child with spastic quadriplegia relates the process of arriving at the decision to utilize tube feeding via a surgically placed gastrostomy. (DB)

Describes public library policies and restrictions on children's library usage, which may include requirements such as name-writing performance tests or enrollment in first grade to qualify for a library card. Such policies are criticized as discriminatory. (MES)

The author traces oral forms of expression used in nonliterate societies and states that children, before they become literate, also depend on the spoken word for learning and communication. The author suggests that a better understanding of orality helps educators gain a fuller sense of the cognitive tasks that children undertake. (Author/CH)

Reply by Jerome Kagan to a recent article by Block, Gjerde, and Block (1986) which questions the validity of the construct of reflection-impulsivity. Kagan alleges flaws in the logic of the authors' (Block, Gjerde, Block) position and in the inferences drawn from their data. (Author/RWB)

Responds to the arguments and evidence adduced by Kagan (1987) in his reply to the Block, Gjerde, and Block (1986) study questioning the validity of the Matching Familiar Figures Test (MFFT) as a measure of "reflection-impulsivity." (Author)

Prevention and control of diarrhea in day care settings depends on: maintenance of hygienic standards; disease surveillance; adhering to a policy for exclusion of children with diarrhea; and education of staff. When diarrhea afflicts several children, isolating together can stop the spread of disease without interrupting normal operation. (KH)

Discusses the value of play and play materials, safe and good toys, and characteristics of children between the ages of two and six. Includes the National Association for the Education of Young Children's brochure "Choosing Good Toys for Young Children." (AS)

The Committee for Economic Development (CED), an independent research and policy organization of approximately 250 business leaders and educators, issued this report as a statement calling on federal and state governments to make early education available to all children age three and over. The statement maintains that in order to ensure that all…

This report presents findings relating the reduction of crime and violence with access to good educational child care programs. The report discusses the affordability of such programs, suggests that federal and state governments are not adequately funding educational child care programs, and argues that investing in high-quality child care and…

Believes extra attention must be focused on language and cultural differences in preparing Individualized Educational Programs. Reports observations from working with Spanish speaking exceptional children in Costa Rica. Describes pilot study conducted to attempt to discover problems associated with administration of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for…

Interviews with 4- to 8-year olds indicated that children's understanding of how it is that they can see object develops gradually. This article presents a map of this development in terms of two distinct modes of cognitive functioning, the ikonic mode and concrete symbolic mode, drawn from the interviews and the SOLO (Structure of Learning…

Delineates the main functions of illustrations in relation to text in picture books. Examines the significance of illustrations to readers. Focuses on picture storybooks because they are most common among young children. Notes that illustrations in picture books are meant to delight, capture attention, amplify or tell a story, teach a concept, and…

Outlines problems faced by parents and caregivers of a child with encopresis. Differentiates between knowledge, skill, and volition issues when dealing with the encoprectic child; and suggests possible causal frameworks for the behavior. Concludes with suggestions for managing the teaching/learning situation arising from this behavior. (Author/KB)

Introduces a position statement developed jointly by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education to identify criteria for developing, adopting, and using early learning standards. Identifies features of effective early learning standards.…

Contains excerpts from unpublished research which illuminate aspects of the play/drama/theatre continuum--research representing over 20 years of study of college students reflecting on their own childhood performance experiences. Focuses on young performers--how children practice the adult art form of theatre through dramatic play. (PA)