Thirty-one parents with multiple sclerosis (MS) participated in a study to investigate the adjustment of their children, 24 boys and 24 girls aged 4 to 16 years. The majority of parents believed that their illness had an effect on their children. The perception of parents regarding their children's problems in the areas of emotions, concentration,…

Adolescents who live in urban settings regularly encounter a complex array of people and circumstances that require sophisticated decision-making skills. Using their personal standards, adolescents coordinate moral thoughts and emotions when deciding how to act. After defining what the author refers to as moral engagement, several empirical…

Although some friction among siblings is inevitable, there are some general guidelines for avoiding unnecessary conflict: (1) downplay competition between siblings; (2) avoid comparisons; (3) recognize that relationships change; (4) treat siblings fairly; and (5) recognize close sibling bonds. (CB)

Parents of disabled children who experience chronic pain can help children cope by: assuring the child that they are aware of the pain; talking about the pain with the child; avoiding overreactions to pain; planning or modifying activities according to intensity of pain; and ensuring that the child gets sufficient rest. (CB)

One of the greatest challenges facing parents is disciplining children. Discipline is not controlling or imposing a parent's will upon children. It is a positive way of helping and guiding children to achieve self-discipline. Discipline tips for parents are included. (MT)

Negotiating is important in family living, and children need to learn this valuable skill. Several tips on parent-child negotiating are presented as well as general guidelines for negotiating with preschoolers, elementary school children, and adolescents. (IAH)

There has been recent emphasis on the importance of investigating prosocial and antisocial behavior simultaneously owing to doubts about whether examining one automatically gives information about the other. However, there has been little empirical research into this question. The present study (based on a large population sample of…

The present study included observational and self-report measures to examine associations among parental stress, parental behaviour, child behaviour, and children's theory of mind and emotion understanding. Eighty-three parents and their 3- to 5-year-old children participated. Parents completed measures of parental stress, parenting (laxness,…

Growing up in a family with a handicapped child offers non-handicapped siblings unusual opportunies for growth. Having handicapped children in the family can make siblings strong, self-sufficient, helpful, and understanding, or weak, emotional, and dependent. Research on this topic is reviewed, and ways in which parents, schools, and…

Parents' attitudes about their gifted children are examined and suggestions are given for parenting five types of gifted children: the perfectionist, the child/adult, the exception, the self-critic, and the well-integrated child. A. Maslow's hierarchy of social-emotional needs is applied to parenting. (CL)

The mother of a mentally retarded 16-year-old discusses ways in which parents can accept their children's sexuality and help them deal with it. (CL)

Presents four things that fathers can do to secure the home front and protect their children in light of the September 11th attacks: take great care to respect and support the children's mother; make an extra effort to spend time with the children; model an appropriate response to the September 11th events; and go to great lengths to continually…

This article presents practical, research-based strategies for parents to use when reading with their child. The intended audience is classroom teachers and reading specialists who work with parents of the children they teach. Each strategy provides supporting research, followed by a description of how the strategy can be implemented by parents.…

There is increased interest by parents in communicating with their children about political violence. However, limited attention in the scholarly literature has focused on parent-child communication about war and terrorism. In response, the purpose of this study is to assess, within their respective ecological contexts, American and Northern Irish…

Suggestions are presented for parents on helping their children develop an interest in reading, including: talking frequently to children; helping children understand the importance of reading; reading aloud to children; reading "one-on-one"; involving children in writing; and choosing good books. (CB)