The decade of the 70's has seen significant improvements in child health and dramatic insights into the biological, psychological, and social factors influencing children's growth and development. Four of the six major gains in health status listed in the Surgeon General's Report on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention relate to improvements in…

This essay examines distinctions between the roles of mothers and teachers, and draws implications for mothers, teachers, parent education programs, and research. Differences between the roles of mothers and teachers are discussed in terms of seven dimensions: (1) scope of functions (diffuse and limitless versus specific and limited); (2)…

These proceedings consist of: a brief opening address by Ms. Val Emerson, Director of the Virginia Division for Children and Youth; a keynote address, "Perspectives on the Family," by Dr. Earl S. Schaefer of the University of North Carolina; and a dialogue on "Programs and Practices for Professionals Working With Parents" by Dr. Ann O'Keefe,…

This paper sequentially reviews recent writings in moral philosophy (1970-1975) on topics related to the problem of morally justifying parental authority while adhering to democratic values. The problem is treated theoretically, and practical life problems are not addressed. The review ecompasses the works of some forty writers on the topics of…

Defines cross-cultural parent performance roles and discusses common goals. Outlines criteria among diverse parenting styles and lists areas of parental functioning for self-image determination status. Provides guidelines for assessing parent cultural competence and names three major tasks for educators in regard to educating parents for…

The article examines the critical differences between discipline and punishment, discusses the dynamics in the interaction between discipliners and youths, and describes adult responses appropriate for different developmental stages. Focus is on the development of the adolescent's understanding, the processes involved, the behavioral stages, and…

A mother recounts her neurologically impaired son's struggles and progress in combating impulsivity in his work and social habits. Now 23 years old, employed full-time, and off medication, the son is still impulsive, has problems with social skills, but has improved his self-image through a photography hobby. (CB)

Recommends ways in which early childhood educators and other professionals can be sensitive to and supportive of the special identification needs of young interracial children and their families. (BB)

Family support and parenting programs exist for parents who need help in acquiring the support, resources, and skills that encourage positive child development. Noting increasing demands for program accountability, this paper identifies 12 recommendations for the future of family support and parenting programs, based on the field's history of…

This keynote address examines the relationship between early childhood development and school readiness. The address begins with basic statistical data indicative of the well-being of children in Pennsylvania and Illinois and maintains that advocacy embracing and encouraging interdisciplinary professional collaboration for supporting and…

This book provides a compilation of quotations related to young children and early childhood education. The quotations (with authors listed) are grouped in three parts. Those in Part 1 concern children and childhood, including quotations related to children in general among us, children at play, and raising children. Quotations in Part 2 relate to…

Research findings on the early precursors of substance use and related adjustment difficulties have led to interest in developmental models to explain problem behavior. This paper examines five major themes that characterize the relationship among social context, individual disposition, and syndromes of problem behaviors that include substance use…

Discusses the emotional trauma children experience at home and in school when their parents divorce. Also considers the actual and potential role of the school in providing support to these youngsters. (Author/LD)

Sylvia Barnard, a classics professor at State University of New York at Albany, discusses growing up on a dairy farm in western Massachusetts; the influence of her mother's college education at Mount Holyoke; her own educational experiences, including those at Yale University where she obtained her doctorate; and her relationship with her…

Cites research on smiling and laughter to illustrate a dynamic systems approach to emotion communication. Maintains that emotion is relational and not individual; the nonreflexive aspects of emotion involve the connection between a person and a context taken as a whole. Presents findings regarding social processes involved in smiling and laughter…