Background: Controlling, uninvolved, and rejecting parenting in early childhood are strong predictors of later disruptive behavior disorders. However, there have been no evaluations of non-targeted groups for parents of very young children, despite their potential advantages. Methods: We randomly assigned 79 mothers of 12- to 36-month-olds to an…

Parents of handicapped children have special needs that can be addressed by the local parent-teacher association. Findings are offered from a study in Dallas which focused on how families cope with disabled children. (DF)

Reviews information that teachers can impart to parents to assist them in parenting gifted children. Subjects addressed include characteristics of gifted learners, the need for early identification, school options, advocacy, myths about gifted students, the charge of elitism, the need to organize parent associations, burnout, and resources. (CR)

This article discusses the benefits of support groups and networks for parents of premature and high-risk infants. Options for starting and maintaining groups are discussed, and a resource section lists self-help organizations, training materials, and reference works. (Author/PB)

The mother of a 13-year-old boy with autism discusses the symptoms of autism from birth through 18 months and 18 through 36 months and her journey out of denial. The dreaded validation of the diagnosis and the support of other parents are addressed. Her husband shares some suggestions for stepfathers. (CR)

A survey of 317 German parents of children with hearing impairments found parents who frequently met with other parents had warm, accepting, trusting relationships with their children. Parents who had many contacts with adults with hearing impairments had a strong sense of competence in regard to their child's upbringing. (Contains extensive…

A study evaluated Parent to Parent mentoring programs in five states. The 56 parents who participated in the program showed statistically significant positive gains on measures of coping, attitude, and progress on addressing problems compared to 72 controls. A qualitative study provided insight into what makes the program work. (Contains…

This article reviews resources that offer personal insights and lessons from families of children with disabilities. Five books are reviewed that offer perspectives from fathers and mothers on raising and coping with a child with a disability, along with three Web sites for families of children with disabilities or premature infants. (CR)