SPACE CONFIGURATION IN THE CHILDREN'S LITERATURE OF MIA COUTO

The main objective of this research is to analyze the the spatial configuration in the children's literature of Mia Couto. It is intended to show that the space outlined in these books reveals many aspects of the social and human reality of Mozambique. Therefore, the books O gato e o escuro (“The cat and the dark”) and O beijo da palavrinha (“The kiss of the little word”) will be analyzed from the perspective of the space’s studies – a research method that survey the spatial configuration in the literature. The fictional space created by Mia Couto delineates a cultural landscape and reveals the human and ethical values that we need to teatch to children. As the author's work is marked by a keen aesthetic sense, the space of the world soon becomes the space of the language.  

The effect of gender context on children's social behaviour in a limited resources situation : an observational study

Knowing when to compete and when to cooperate to maximize opportunities for equal access to activities and materials in groups is critical to children's social and cognitive development. The present study examined the individual (gender, social competence) and contextual factors (gender context) that may determine why some children are more successful than others. One hundred and fifty-six children (M age=6.5 years) were divided into 39 groups of four and videotaped while engaged in a task that required them to cooperate in order to view cartoons. Children within all groups were unfamiliar to one another. Groups varied in gender composition (all girls, all boys, or mixed-sex) and social competence (high vs. low). Group composition by gender interaction effects were found. Girls were most successful at gaining viewing time in same-sex groups, and least successful in mixed-sex groups. Conversely, boys were least successful in same-sex groups and most successful in mixed-sex groups. Similar results were also found at the group level of analysis; however, the way in which the resources were distributed differed as a function of group type. Same-sex girl groups were inequitable but efficient whereas same-sex boy groups were more equitable than mixed groups but inefficient compared to same-sex girl groups. Social competence did not influence children's behavior. The findings from the present study highlight the effect of gender context on cooperation and competition and the relevance of adopting an unfamiliar peer paradigm when investigating children's social behavior.