Explores the concept of ecologically-determined maladjustment in relation to child mental health, and suggests that, in western societies, certain traditional beliefs, values, and practices are so out of harmony with human biological "givens" that they may contribute to the psychological ill health of children. (CM)

The mother of a moderately mentally handicapped son describes her decision to place her child in residential care. The author discusses her adjustment on learning of her son's handicap and how, after 10 years, she is confident that the decision she made was right for her family. (PHR)

The process of coping with the academic difficulties of a 16-year-old boy is discussed from the point of view of his parents. The effect of each parent's life experiences on how they viewed their son's problem is examined. (PHR)

Analyzes cultural deprivation as a factor affecting children's acquisition, development and utilization of language. Finds that social class, home and environmental variables are among the most significant underlying dimensions of language patterns. Their influence on language is described as a series of conditioned responses reinforced in the…

Reports the experiences of two mothers with intercountry adoption. Identifies problems encountered and methods of solving them. Emphasizing the effects of cultural differences on early experience, the article points out that by the age of 6 months infants have begun to develop relationships with significant others and have expectations for…

Commitment to planning for permanency is essential if the way foster care agencies work with cases is to be changed and the discontinuities experienced by foster children are to be reduced. (RH)

The author discusses the emotional issues that confront stepparents and stepchildren and describes a program to help stepparents deal with these issues and other conflicts. She also explores the myths of instant adjustment and recreated nuclear families and the realities of the stepparent-stepchild relationship. (Author/BEF)

Considers how elementary social studies teachers view the early values development their students receive in the home. Discusses the influence of parents, the modeling process, discipline, parents as teachers, and proposes a cooperative parent teacher project for values education. (CK)

Focuses on definition of sensitivity, developmental changes in sensitivity, and clinical implications of attachment. Maintains that promptness, consistency, and appropriateness are the main components of sensitivity across parenting dimensions. Suggests that studying infant antecedents to attachment security is equally important to that of parent…

Maintains that it is important to distinguish theory testing from effect-size evaluation when considering the impact of mothering on attachment security. Contends that it is possible that the De Wolff and van IJzendoorn meta-analysis both over- and underestimates mothering effects, as would be the case if infants varied in their susceptibility to…

This paper examines the role of internal working models in the development of parent-child relationships. Mental representations of child attachment, adult attachment, and parental caregiving are reviewed in light of adaptational deficits often associated with attachment insecurity. A reconceptualization of the link between insecurity and child…

Examines research that measured the effects of early child day care and how adverse findings affect the public-debate about how to provide care for U.S. children. Areas addressed include day care's effect on the mother/child relationship; its effects on child cognitive development and social development; and who is ultimately responsible for day…

Featured article discusses feeding infants, advocating use of homemade baby food as more economical, healthy, environmentally friendly, tasty, and smoothing the transition to finger foods. Also presents innovative classroom techniques, such as detergent box totes, and a forum for open discussion of child care topics, such as student evaluation and…

Discusses ways that family policy conceptions of stability for children are tied to a particular family form and to maintaining continuity in biological parenting obligations, while parenting research has focused on measuring consequences of changing family forms for children. Asserts that stepfamily members have more complex understandings about…