In many nations, children's literature is a propaganda element for society. The structure of society, both real and imagined, and the composition of the immature mind make children's literature, both good and bad, a method by which to shape future citizens. Through studying the literature of a particular period and in one country, the relationship between children's literature and the history of the times and the ideals of the adults of that age is made clearer. Literature for the young is a record of the spirit of the times.

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston University / The purpose of this study is to survey the television interests of 224 children in grades four, five, and six in a city school district. The program preferences, types of programs which have the greatest attraction, the amount of time given to listening, hobbies and interests, and the relationship of sex to program preferences will be surveyed.

University of Macau / Faculty of Arts and Humanities. / Department of English

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston University

Rising Star is a novel about appearances. Thailand Allen is a girl who thinks she understands what she sees. But when what she sees are cracks in her perfect world, maturation and new sight are not far off. Before growth can occur, Thailand must undergo a painful process of learning that carries with it embarrassment, sorrow, anger and confusion. Thailand lives with her mother in a small Texas town called Rising Star. Rising Star is like every other small town with its community gatherings, quirky characters, lavish holiday festivals and wizened elders. But in one way, the town is different. The children of Rising Star can fly. Thailand and her friends are nearing the age of Dreaming, a part of the painful process of maturity that exchanges flight for vivid dreams and at times, prophetic visions. The knowledge that she will soon be grounded brings Thailand a great deal of fear and embarrassment. But these things are soon complicated by a seemingly unconnected mystery. After the discovery of a lost safe deposit key, Thailand and her friends explore record rooms and a Newspaper Office, uncovering mysterious letters and long forgotten newspaper articles that have some connection with the school bully, Paul Rampling. But Thailand soon learns there is more to this discovery than mere intrigue. Her search for answers will take her to an unexpected place, a place where her mother is not who she thought she was, and where her own identity is brought into question.

Resumo: O presente estudo avaliou a validade relativa de um Questionário Quantitativo de Freqüência Alimentar (QQFA), previamente validado para população adulta, para crianças de 5 a 10 anos de idade do município de Mirandópolis, estado de São Paulo. A validade foi testada por meio de comparação entre os valores estimados pela média de três dias de Registro Alimentar (método referência) e os valores obtidos pelo QQFA. O estudo foi realizado com 151 crianças de ambos os sexos e seus responsáveis, os quais responderam um QQFA e, posteriormente, 3 dias de Registro Alimentar. Os dados foram calculados utilizando os programas Nutri 2.5 e Dietsys e analisados utilizando-se coeficiente de correlação de Pearson, ajustados para caloria e corrigidos pela variância intrapessoal. Observou-se uma variabilidade alta no consumo da dieta das crianças, com as maiores razões de variância para energia e cálcio. Os coeficientes de correlação de Pearson obtidos após ajuste pela caloria e correção pela variância variam entre 0,15 a 0,81. A média dos coeficientes de correlação foi de 0,40. Esses resultados indicam a capacidade do QQFA em classificar os indivíduos segundo seu consumo habitual para a maioria dos nutrientes, porém é aconselhável que o instrumento seja calibrado, uma vez que os macronutrientes como carboidratos, lipídios e proteína apresentaram baixas correlações. / Abstract: The present study has evaluated the relative validity of a Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (QFFQ), previously validated to the adult population, for children from 5 to 10 years old from Mirandópolis, São Paulo. The validity was obtained by comparing the estimated values of the average of 3 Day Diet Record (reference method) with the values obtained by QFFQ. The study was performed with 151 children of both sexes and their responsible, who answered the QFFQ and, in a sequence, 3 Day Diet Record. The data was calculated by using the Nutry 2.5 and Dietsys programs. Comparison among calculated data were analyzed by correlation coefficient of Pearson, adjusted for calorie and corrected by the intra personal variance. It was observed a large variability in the consumption of the children's diet, with the largest variance ratio for energy and calcium. The correlation coefficients of Pearson obtained, after calorie adjustment and correction for the variance, varied in the range of 0.15 to 0.81. The obtained average correlation coefficient was 0.40. The calculated results indicate the capacity of QFFQ in classifying the individuals according to their habitual consumption for the majority of nutrients. However, it is advisable the instrument calibration, once macronutrients as carbohydrates, lipids and protein showed low correlations with the real consumption. / Orientador: Maria de Lourdes Pires Bianchi / Coorientador: Jacqueline Pontes Monteiro / Banca: João Bosco Faria / Banca: Simon Carmelo Junior / Mestre

The study investigated the nature of the portrayal of aged characters in children's novels which won Children's Book Council of Australia's awards in the period from 1946 to 1985. By means of content analysis, the demographic, personal and behavioural characteristics of aged characters were identified on a thirty-four item checklist. From these characteristics a portrayal score was derived to represent the extent of variation in the depiction of aged characters in the novels examined. Analysis of variance tests indicated that the level of variation in portrayal scores was significantly related to the position of importance of aged characters in novels. The portrayal of aged characters did not vary according either to the approach to story adopted in Australian award-winning novels, or to the period in which the award was granted. It seems that although aged characters taken as a whole in the novels studied display the variety of characteristics attributed to aged people in the literature of gerontology, individually many of these aged characters are depicted in a somewhat limited way. There is evidence to suggest that aged characters in Australian award-winning children's novels do not adequately reflect the demographic characteristics of aged people in the Australian population. In terms of range of social settings in which they are depicted is restricted. So too, is the range of behaviours in which they engage. This rather limited depiction of aged characters means that readers of Australian award-winning children's novels are presented with a restricted and unrealistic view of the aged and of the condition of being aged. If children's novels serve as one of the socialisation agents for young people, then the limited portrayal of aged characters presented in those novels may be a cause for concern, especially as there are few indications that the depiction of aged characters generally in more recent award-winning novels has become more varied and realistic.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 1963. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 81-83). Also available on the World Wide Web.

<p>Syftet med detta arbete är att studera vilken inverkan musiken kan ha på språkutveckling hos barn i förskoleåldern och att belysa fördelar med att använda sig av musik som en del av de vardagliga aktiviteterna och undervisningen. Vidare undersöks också pedagogers kunskap och trygghet i att använda sig av musik som språkutvecklande verktyg i förskolan och i förskoleklass. Metoden som användes var enkäter som delades ut till verksam personal på 2 skolor och 6 förskolor.</p><p>Resultatet visar att respondenterna i enlighet med studerad litteratur, framhöll att musik har en positiv inverkan på barns språkutveckling, samtidigt som de ser musiken som glädjeskapande uttrycksmedel. Musik används mer eller mindre på förskolor och i förskoleklasser. Däremot svarar fler respondenter att de inte tycker sig ha tillräckliga kunskaper i användandet av musik som språkutvecklande verktyg. De anser alltså att musiken är språkutvecklande men vet inte riktigt hur de ska använda musiken i språkutvecklande syfte. Pedagogernas bristande kunskaper tyder alltså på att utbildningen inte gett tillräckliga kunskaper för användande av musik i språkutvecklande syfte.</p>

Concurrent and prospective relationships between symptoms of depression, anxiety, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and conduct disorder (CD) and academic achievement were examined in a large sample of Canadian children. Students in Grade 5 (N = 715) completed the depression and anxiety subscales of the Behaviour Assessment System for Children – Second Edition. Parents reported on their child’s symptoms of ADHD and CD using the Brief Child and Family Phone Interview. Academic achievement was measured using teacher-rated learning skills and students’ grade point average (GPA) from their Ontario Student Record (OSR) in fifth grade and again in sixth grade (N = 627). Symptoms of depression, anxiety, ADHD, and CD were significantly negatively correlated with academic achievement at Time 1 and Time 2. After controlling for child’s sex, household income, maternal education, and days absent, children’s mental health problems accounted for an additional 12% and 11% of the variability in their Time 1 mean ratings of learning skills and GPA, respectively. Only symptoms of ADHD predicted Time 2 GPA (1% of the variance) after controlling for Time 1 GPA and other sociodemographic variables. Findings highlight the unique contribution of mental health problems in predicting academic achievement and point to the need to promote children’s mental health in schools.