I watch my eighteen-month old daughter talking to the soft-bodied doll that I have made her. I wonder what she sees in the undefined cloth face. I wonder if she will make a similar doll for her child one day and I wonder if she will wonder as I do. While the repetition across generations of early childhood experience is both common sense and much…

Over the second half of the twentieth century, changes occurred in parent reports of their engagement in cognitive activities with their young children in the United States. This article argues that the growing trend of "parenting for cognitive development" in young children in the latter half of the twentieth century is associated with the…

In this article, the author explores the performances and practices of motherhood and childhood as they materialize in a private elementary school setting in Ottawa, Canada. The author analyses the ways the ideology of intensive mothering and the intensification of children's lives intersect and inform one another in this setting. She argues that…

Discusses the findings of a survey on what foods should be given to toddlers. Concludes that there is a need for greater awareness among rural mothers about child feeding and nutrition education. (JOW)

A mother reflects on the ordeals faced by her infant son who has heart and intestinal disorders and discusses the characteristics needed by mothers of disabled and chronically ill children. (CL)

A foster mother describes her experiences raising a young multiply handicapped girl and an emotionally disturbed adolescent. With much patience, both girls made progress with their problems and, as the author explains, the rewards have been great. (PHR)

This reprint of a 1915 conference paper discusses the mother's role in the spiritual and moral development of her children, as well the right of all children to grow spiritually and morally, unimpeded by the power of adults. Stresses the civil rights of children, including their right to a nurturing, healthy environment. (MDM)

This document, a result of the October 1979 joint meeting of the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (WHO/UNICEF) on Infant and Young Child Feeding, provides both a report of the themes discussed by the participating working groups, and a compendium of background information relevant to these themes. The five…

Describes changes in the family and ameliorative efforts on behalf of the family in the Republic of Benin. Also examines health needs of women and young children in urban and rural areas. Stresses that early childhood issues must be considered within the context of society and family status. (NH)

Describes the national data currently available to answer questions concerning: the match between children in need of child care and the type of arrangements made for them; the proportion of children in licensed arrangements; the relationship between price of care and the family's ability to pay; and parents' preferences for type of program. (BB)

Recent findings from neuroscience have confirmed the critical importance of the early years to the development of human intelligence. However, these findings may be misunderstood or misapplied by policy makers and educators. We must preserve a balanced view of early education that recognizes the importance of the mother-child relationship and the…

A mother recounts her experiences teaching receptive language to her 3-year-old cerebral palsied, mentally retarded daughter. A chart outlines the objectives in language acquisition, the indication(s) of achievement, and date of achievement. (PHR)

Hypothesizes that traumatization underlies the difficulties many children experience from witnessing their parents' marital violence/spousal abuse, and argues that intervention should be designed to counteract post-traumatic disorders. A case study highlights this discussion. (BB)

This paper addresses the issues surrounding the widely publicized problem of newborn infants who have been exposed to cocaine before their birth, and suggests ways to prevent the problems associated with fetal exposure to drugs during pregnancy. The paper presents information concerning the effects of prenatal cocaine exposure on infants,…

Examines the special characteristics of adolescent parents and reviews a series of field-tested, hands-on parent education workshops for them. Suggests that recognizing the adolescent needs of very young parents and building a parent education program based on concrete, playful experiences with plentiful opportunities to interact with peers appear…