The Socialization of Emotion (Eisenberg, Cumberland, & Spinrad, 1998; Eisenberg, Spinrad, & Cumberland, 1998) model creates a theoretical framework for understanding parents' direct and indirect influences on children's emotional development, including the influence of parent characteristics on subsequent emotion specific parenting. Large…

This article reviews the findings from our assessments of children and their families in two Head Start programs using the Family Map. Specifically, we used the Family Map assessment tool to identify risks to children associated with alcohol and drug use in families with young children. Practical suggestions are offered to administrators about the…

Multivariate, biopsychosocial, explanatory models of mothers' and fathers' psychological and physical aggression toward their 3- to 7-year-old children were fitted and cross-validated in 453 representatively sampled families. Models explaining mothers' and fathers' aggression were substantially similar. Surprisingly, many variables identified as…

The authors share results from two longitudinal studies exploring the impact of father's alcohol use on child development. The Michigan Longitudinal Study (MLS) has followed a sample of alcoholic families with 3-5 year old children for 20 years. The Buffalo Longitudinal Study (BLS) has followed a sample of alcoholic and nonalcoholic families…

Attachment, separation, and loss are critical life events for many young children. This article discusses prevalent factors of separation and loss and their potential harmful effects on development. Also, books and resources geared for children are suggested to help early childhood professionals facilitate resolution with affected children and…

Attempts to identify and evaluate reading material currently available to introduce young children to the topics of alcohol and alcoholism. (BB)

Considers dilemma of elementary school-aged children from alcoholic families. Contends that elementary school experiences can be pivotal for these students and that educators need to understand nature, scope, and implications of chemical dependency to help these children. Describes life in alcoholic household and discusses possible feelings and…

This study examined the development of aggressive and oppositional behavior among alcoholic and nonalcoholic families using latent growth modeling. The sample consisted of 226 families assessed at 18, 24, 36, and 48 months of child age. Results indicated that children in families with nonalcoholic parents had the lowest levels of aggressive…

Psychosocial factors as possible predictive indicators for adjustment of four-year-old children whose mothers had used amphetamine during pregnancy were studied. Length of maternal alcohol and drug abuse was correlated negatively with the child's adjustment as were numbers of paternal criminal convictions and number of maternal stress factors.…

Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesis that parental distress would mediate relations between parental lifetime alcohol and physical health problems and child behavior problems. Results indicated that sons of parents with alcohol and physical health problems are at elevated risk for behavior problems, partly related to…

Scores on the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment were higher for control families than for families with an alcoholic father. For preschool sons of alcoholic fathers, overall developmental quotient, motor development, and social development were less advanced than for control children. (BC)

This article reviews 46 experimental studies on behavioral and developmental outcomes associated with prenatal exposure to illicit drugs. Only half of the 460 individual outcomes significantly indicated adverse effects of prenatal exposure. The greatest number of these outcomes was for infants younger than one month, with relatively few outcomes…

Examines substance addiction and how early childhood educators can support growth in children and recovering mothers. Discusses theories regarding addiction development, recovery as a developmental process, and the impact of addiction on mothers and their children. Describes developing positive therapeutic relationships, setting limits, and…

This article discusses incidental references to alcohol and drinking in selected children's books and the appropriateness of these references. Books that afford a comprehensive view of alcohol and its effects are discussed, and suggestions for teachers concerning the use of such books are offered. Two book lists are provided. (LB)