This study examined a model of emotional, cognitive, and behavior predictors of peer acceptance in 201 early elementary school students. Findings indicated that social skills mediated the effect of emotion knowledge on same- and opposite-sex social preference. However, social skills and verbal ability were more strongly related to opposite-sex…

This article presents a rationale for matching social skills intervention strategies to the skill and comfort levels that typically developing children show toward their peers with special needs and provides teachers with guidance on how to accomplish this match. Environmental manipulations that facilitate interactions and peer-mediated strategies…

Studied whether social skills intervention would be more effective when delivered in presence of high-social-status (HS) students in grades two, three, and four. Assigned 35 low-social-status students to intervention with HS peers, without HS peers, or no intervention. Evaluations of peer ratings, social problem solving, and teacher ratings…

Compared early adolescent involvement with antisocial peers and boys' experiences at age 10. Poor parental discipline and monitoring, peer rejection, and academic failure at age 10 predicted involvement with antisocial peers at age 12. Continuity between boys' antisocial behavior and peer contact at ages 10 and 12 was found. (BC)

Measures of self-monitoring and other measures were completed by 93 elementary school children on 3 occasions during a 15-month period. Self-monitoring was related to peer acceptance and self-esteem, but the relation may have been influenced by gender. Boys' self-monitoring correlated with popularity measures, whereas girls' did not. (BC)

This study compared peer acceptance of 100 mainstreamed (mostly learning-disabled) elementary school students with acceptance of classmates of low, average, and high reading ability. Analysis found that mainstreamed and low-ability students were similar in peer acceptance, as were high-and average-ability readers. (Author/PB)

The interactions of three dyads, consisting of one student with moderate mental retardation and one nondisabled peer, were assessed while playing computer games. Results indicated that students (ages 13-14) exhibited more frequent social initiations, higher degrees of game satisfaction, and equal/higher degrees of peer satisfaction while playing…

Examined fourth, fifth, and sixth graders' self-conceptualizations about their own appearance in relation to peer evaluations of social behaviors. The children also indicated how important they believed appearance to be for peer relationships. Found that the association of appearance self-discrepancies and particular behavior dispositions occurred…

Offers educators and families a variety of strategies to help facilitate the development of friendships among students with disabilities and their typical peers. Activities to teach students about individual differences, music and art activities to promote friendships, and sample get-acquainted and class-cohesiveness activities are listed. (CR)

This article describes the phenomenon of loneliness and its incidence in children with disabilities, and suggests techniques for detecting and dealing with loneliness at school. Interventions include social skills training, creating opportunities for social interaction, creating an accepting classroom climate, teaching adequate coping strategies,…

A step-by-step guide is presented for developing and implementing a social interaction intervention based on a study of an inclusive preschool program. Steps include developing a data collection system, selecting observation time, collecting baseline data, identifying target children, developing social interaction skills intervention, monitoring…

This article presents a discussion of peer relationships, family relationships, and the contexts of junior high and high school as experienced by normally developing adolescents and offers implications in each of these areas for adolescents with language disorders. Case studies of adolescents with language impairments are presented. (Contains…

Early childhood teachers, the first contacts outside the family for many children, are in a key position to convey knowledge about adoption and model acceptance of it. As teachers educate themselves about adoption issues, they can foster a positive response to family diversity in the classroom by raising awareness, empowering adopted children, and…

Reports a cross-sectional investigation of the behavioral and academic correlates of victimization in Chinese children's peer groups. Structural equation models indicated that peer victimization was associated with poor academic functioning, submissive-withdrawn behavior, aggression, and low levels of assertive-prosocial behavior. Findings suggest…

Used short-term longitudinal design to examine peer relations processes that may mediate relation between peer rejection and kindergartners' emotional and academic adjustment. Structural equation modeling results supported hypothesis that negative peer treatment and classroom participation partially mediated the relationship between rejection and…