Naturalistically observed 52 preschoolers' responses to their crying peers. Found that variations in preschoolers' ways of responding were related to the children's temperament, friendship status, and interactive style with peers. (Author/BC)

Five studies investigated preschoolers' understanding of the biological germ theory of illness compared to that of 6- or 10- to 11-year-olds. Found that the younger the child, the less likely he or she was to judge germs as causes of illness. Studies undermined claim that preschoolers understand germs to be uniquely biological causal agents. (JPB)

Although externalizing behavior typically peaks in toddlerhood and decreases by school entry, some children do not show this normative decline. A sample of 383 boys and girls was assessed at ages 2, 4, and 5 for externalizing behavior and at age 2 on measures of emotion regulation and inattention. A longitudinal latent profile analysis was…

Twenty preschool children and their mothers were observed interacting verbally in an unstructured situation. Close mutual adaptation of both partners was demonstrated. Correlational patterns allowed the abstraction of primitive and advanced clusters of language-teaching/learning behaviors. (JMB)

Investigates the relationship of subvocal speech to recall in 46 4- and 5-year-old children on three muscle sites: lip, chin, and a nonspeech control. (LLK)

Twelve 21/2-year-old children received adult verbal intervention selectively directed toward acquisition of either question forms or verb forms. Findings showed that children who received verb intervention acquired new verb structures while children who received question intervention acquired new forms of questions. (Author/JMB)

A series of stimuli designed to assess the dependence of children's cardinal number judgments on relative length and relative density cues was administered to 4- and 6-year-old children. (SB)

Preschool children transferring to new schools were observed during a two-week period prior to separation from classmates. "Anticipatory" reactions by departing children were similar to behaviors noted in young children separated from their mothers during the mother's hospitalization for the birth of another child. (Author/RH)

The development of two structural principles, hierarchical complexity and interruption, was examined in a new domain: two-dimensional pictures. Subjects were 60 4-to 5 1/2-year-old children. (Author/MP)

Investigates age differences in degree of speech lateralization for children between ages 3 and 12 years. A dual-task procedure was used as a measure of speech lateralization. (Author/SS)

Two studies examined whether effects of attention to rewards during a delay of gratification task in waiting situations affects preschoolers' ability to delay gratification in working situations. Findings show that when work provides distraction, attention on rewards reduces delay time whether working or waiting; when work is not engaging,…

When coached in leading peers, asking questions of peers, making comments to peers, and supporting peers, trained children showed significant increase in their use of comments and leads and improved in questions and supports, whereas controls showed little change. Increases in skill use in the classroom with peers was correlated with improvements…

A group of healthy mothers were compared with a group of mothers who had problems with getting their children to comply. Healthy mothers more effectively modulated their directives and had significantly higher scores on a measure of maternal coordination. (RH)

Investigated 34 4- and 5-year-olds and their parents to determine the children's behavioral, physiological, and verbal responses to adults' angry behavior. Findings indicate behavioral and verbal responses of distress and an increase in systolic blood pressure in response to anger. (RJC)