How Toddler Peers Generate Coordinated Action: A Cross-Cultural Exploration

A developmental pathway is proposed for toddlers' mastery of the skills involved in generating non-ritualized forms of cooperative coordinated action with peers and the studies of USA toddlers supporting this pathway reviewed. The proposed pathway posits (a) a central role for nonverbal imitative acts in enabling toddlers to generate together extended bouts of nonverbal coordinated action and (b) a central role for these bouts of imitative coordinated action in facilitating toddlers' development of verbal means of coordinating action. This pathway then guides an analysis of the development and functions of imitative acts among toddler peers from a quite different cultural context-the Seltaman people of Papua New Guinea. Twelve Seltaman toddlers were observed with peers at near-weekly intervals over a six-month period. Ready imitation of one another emerged among the Seltaman toddlers during the same developmental period as for USA toddlers and functioned similarly to generate extended bouts of coordinated action-reciprocal imitation games. The themes of the reciprocal imitation games, however, varied in line with the socialization practices and characteristic play settings of the two cultures. These findings provide further support for the proposition that these imitative acts form part of a distinctly human pathway of development related to the emergence of human language.     

A Field-Based Testing Protocol for Assessing Gross Motor Skills in Preschool Children: The Children's Activity and Movement in Preschool Study Motor Skills Protocol

The purpose of this study was to develop a valid and reliable tool for use in assessing motor skills in preschool children in field-based settings. The development of the Children's Activity and Movement in Preschool Study Motor Skills Protocol included evidence of its reliability and validity for use in field-based environments as part of large epidemiological studies. Following pilot work, 297 children (3–5 years old) from 22 preschools were tested using the final version of the Children's Activity and Movement in Preschool Study Motor Skills Protocol and the Test of Gross Motor Development (2nd Edition). Reliability of the Children's Activity and Movement in Preschool Study Motor Skills Protocol and interobserver reliability were determined using intraclass correlation procedures (intraclass correlation coefficients; ANOVA). Concurrent validity was assessed using Pearson correlation coefficients to compare the Children's Activity and Movement in Preschool Study Motor Skills Protocol to the original Test of Gross Motor Development (2nd Edition). Results indicated that test reliability, interobserver reliability, and validity coefficients were all high, generally above R/r = .90. Significant age differences were found. Outcomes indicate that the Children's Activity and Movement in Preschool Study Motor Skills Protocol is an appropriate tool for assessing motor development of 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old children in field-based settings that are consistent with large-scale trials.     

The Veering Tendency of the Arm,When Drawing a Straight Line without Vision

Abstract

Fifty-seven male and female university students were seated individually at a table, blindfolded, and asked to draw a straight line directly away from the center of their bodies. Results indicated that performances with the right hand were, in general, more accurate than those with the left hand. The data also indicated that lines drawn with the right hand veered slightly to the left, while those drawn with the left hand tended to veer to the right. Hand dominance had no effect upon the accuracy of the line-drawing performance.     

A Research-based Community Theater Performance to Promote Ageing: Is it More than Just a Show?

Research-based community theater can address important life issues in a safe and entertaining environment. This study investigated using a theater performance about widowhood as a medium for facilitating older people's engagement with key life events and countering negative stereotypes. Quantitative questions incorporating semistructured qualitative sections were conducted with 29 older people from a group of 250 audience members who attended the performance. The majority of participants found the performance true to life, enjoyable, of high quality, and a useful learning tool. This study illustrates the potential for wider application of research-based community theater for promoting healthy ageing in older adults.     

流利英语脱口出

1.Constructive criticism建设性的批评(意见)A:I like constructive criticism.我喜欢建设性的批评。B:Me too.我是。A:But what is often labeled constructive criticism may actually be destructive jealousy.但往往,标着所谓建设性意见的标牌,实际却是出于非常具有破坏性的嫉妒。