Responds to previous articles by Fincham, Beach, Moore, and Diener (this issue) on child sexual abuse. Considers how accurate very young children's recollections are about events, people, and places from their distant past, and how likely their testimony is to be biased about such matters if interviewers use leading questions or suggestive…

Seven functional uses of anatomical dolls in sexual abuse evaluations of young children are identified: comforter, icebreaker, anatomical model, demonstration aid, memory stimulus, diagnostic screen, and diagnostic test. The relevancy of criticisms is shown to vary greatly by doll use. The continued, informed use of anatomical dolls in sexual…

The recent rise in terrorism around the world has caused families, educators, and indeed everyone to consider again how to help young children grow up tolerant, accepting, and, above all, non-violent. Policies that support a tolerant, inclusive curriculum are essential if children are to survive in the years ahead. Curriculum policies must be…

Stresses the need for a concerted effort to educate children about the problem of sexual abuse. Suggests that teaching about this subject is most effective when planned as a personal-safety component of the curriculum. Discusses myths surrounding child sexual abuse. Guidelines for teaching, curriculum ideas, and sexual abuse indicators are…

This paper questions the appropriateness of characterizing infants/young children who are handicapped or developmentally delayed as a group in jeopardy for abuse/neglect. It proposes the adoption of a family-focused view, which considers child, family, and environmental variables to determine risk and provide services to abusive and neglectful…

The study examining records of 370 children seen by a Child Protection Service Unit found 41 (11 percent) were involved in custody/access disputes. Of these cases 31 were females, sexual abuse was alleged for 34 and physical abuse for 7, and more than half were under 4 years of age. (DB)

Introduces a study of sexual behavior problems in sexually abused boys and girls, aged 3-7 years. Stresses the importance of considering the issue of the child's own sexual feelings and arousal. Such studies are seen as providing practitioners with pointers to the most at-risk children. Also urges more research concerning interventions for sexual…

Describes the challenge for teachers in effectively and sensitively balancing the physical nurturance of children with the public's concern with the sexual abuse of young children. Public perceptions of child care, parent and professional concerns, and the implications for child development. (AS)

Critiques an article cautioning that children may perform poorly when questioned by professionals about emotional or painful events. Asserts that young children have the vocabulary to report feelings of distress or anger, even if they sometimes fail to make use of that vocabulary in particular contexts. (CR)

Discusses the way in which the legal system perpetuates child abuse and protects parents' rights more than children's rights. Discusses the difficulties social services encounter in dealing with these children and parents. (RJC)

Details the 1990 meeting of the World Council of the World Organization for Early Childhood Education (OMEP) in Lagos, Nigeria. OMEP's Statement to the World Summit for Children is provided. The conditions of Nigerian children and female children in India are considered. (BG)

Explores the idea of "wonderful children" as a socially defined concept pervading parents' perceptions of their children. Examines professionals' views of young children and possible contradictions which arise within the specific context of child abuse. The analysis is based on interviews with mothers and observations of interactions at…

The article reviews state child care licensing legislation in light of reported child abuse and neglect in some such facilities. Recommended are licensing of all facilities of any size or religious affiliation, criminal record screening, at least annual inspections, unannounced inspections, and required notice to parents when abuse has been…

Discusses the problem of fundamentalist Chiristian day care facilities and schools that mete out corporal punishment to young children and justify it with Biblical passages and Christian doctrine. (GC)

Keeping children safe becomes a more complicated concern when many of the offenders are not adults, but other children. Data from the justice system reveals that juveniles account for about 20% of all forcible rapes and about 50% of child sexual abuse. Contrary to the media's depiction, the majority come from two-parent homes, have no prior…