The effects of using interactive media have been well studied among young children and adolescents but remain understudied for middle childhood (ages 6-12 years). Children and youth of this age comprise much of the pre-adult population that uses digital games and apps. The Every Student Succeeds Act says that states must give students access to…

Peace education has been offered to children for decades, but those curricula have been only minimally guided by children's developmental stages and needs. In this article, the authors apply their research on children's developmental understanding of peace along with peace education principles and Vygotsky's sociocultural theory to present…

Although the world is changing rapidly, young people's developmental trajectory has remained the same. Just as in the past, today's young adolescents with still-developing prefontal cortexes are malleable, impulsive, and impressionable. But Phyllis Fagell identifies three areas where today's tweens are different from those of the past. They are…

This simple, first-published article by Mario Montessori was written in Kodaikanal, India, and reveals a great Montessori truth that has never been so explicit: There are developmental stages for practical life that cross over into nature study and living experiences. Although more abstract, the second plane has a strong practical life component…

The affluence in the United States in the recent past has made it tempting to indulge children in individual achievement within a culture of abundance. Parents and teachers worry over how to teach compassion in a culture of abundance and competition for personal success, where children's time is over-scheduled and they are geographically dispersed…

This article discusses traditional and contemporary definitions of middle childhood play, the value of such play for children's development and learning, the implications of home, school, and societal practices that have resulted in changing the play scenario of middle childhood, and suggestions for assuring that play's value will be maintained…

As Montessorians come to the beginning of the second century of the Montessori system of education, they are in agreement that following the principles and guidelines set out by Maria Montessori a century ago empowers them to present to children an environment that truly "works." As the child is very different and the changes very evident between…

Beginning with an introduction to the concept of family recovery, this article explores its stages and three distinct types of families in recovery. The primary focus, however, is the impact family recovery has on pre-teens and adolescents who are the "forgotten" family members in this radical and traumatic long-term process. (Contains 2 tables.)

Describes a delinquency prevention program where young boys were taken to jail following minor law offenses. With a counselor, they talked to police and prisoners about what it was like to be in jail. None of the 19 children who participated committed any serious crimes in the six years since the program began. (JAC)

Fostering Healthy Futures (FHF) is a randomized, controlled trial of an innovative preventive intervention for preadolescent youth (ages 9-11) placed in out-of-home care. The program is designed to promote child well-being by identifying and addressing mental health issues, preventing adolescent risk behaviors, and promoting competence. This paper…

Discusses how Montessori infant and toddler communities provide an occasion for child development education for upper elementary and adolescent students within the school. Uses a question-and-answer format to illustrate how the program addresses the reality of lifestyles other than that of the traditional family. (Author/KB)

Child development can be fostered through relationships between older adults and children. Children's social isolation resulting from demographic, economic, and social changes can be addressed by means of intergenerational programs. During four developmental stages from infancy to adolescence, older adults can play a significant role in…