Since the passage of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act in 1975, problems remain regarding appropriate placement of children into least restrictive learning environments in physical education. Many educational placements are ineffective for reasons that have little relationship to the children's abilities, and this has resulted in an ongoing need to seek alternative methods of assessing children for appropriate class placements. Parents have always been involved in this decision-making process. As advocacy and training programs have increased their effectiveness as resource personnel, parents' roles in the education process have broadened. Because of parents' enhanced capabilities as support personnel, and the crucial roles they play in their children's educational programs, this study investigated parents' perspectives regarding the factors essential for placement of children with disabilities into integrated physical education programs. Seventy-five parents completed a 21-item survey to determine factors essential for integrated physical education programs. Results suggested that class size, program support, physical and communicative skills, health status, and motivation were prerequisites of an effectively integrated program.

Tai Chi, an ancieni form of Chinese fitness exercise, affords its participants a variety of physical and psychological benefits. Research has suggested that individuals engaging in Tai Chi exercises improve cardiovascular fitness and motor control while reducing stress, anxiety and depression. Tai Chi is particularly suitable for seniors, who are often at risk for a variety of problems associated with aging (e.g.. arthritis, neurological dysfunction, and general decline of balance, coordination, and locomotor function). Because of its self-paced. nonstressful, and noncompetitive nature, and its ability to afford economy of lime, space, and equipment, Tai Chi presents an effective, functional alternative exercise form for the senior adult population. This article presents the background of Tai Chi practice and introduces several key elements and suggestions for teaching Tai Chi to senior participants. Finally, some selected resources for Tai Chi practice are listed.

This meta-analysis quantitatively summarized the developmental influence and the effects of locomotor experience as well as the benefits of locomotor practice, locomotor assistance, and active searching patterns on children's search performance. Based on specific criteria, a search of a database and reference lists identified 19 studies, including 1,029 children (510 boys and 519 girls) from 4 to 144 months of age. Outcome measures of spatial performance were converted to 83 effect sizes that reflected the effects of specific experimental characteristics. Analyses of variance indicated that with older children, locomotor activities are more important to their spatial searching. Locomotor status, searching patterns, locomotor assistance, test conditions, and test reliability were identified as moderator variables. In addition, locomotor training significantly improved children's spatial search. The results supported the hypothesis that children's development of spatial search skills is influenced by locomotor experience.

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