The literature related to affective development in preschool children is reviewed, and suggestions for enhancing cognitive skills through affective activities are given. Considered are the rationale for early intervention, problems in affective development, parent involvement, and the benefits of early stimulation. Suggestions for enhancing…

In this paper it is argued that successful parenting techniques can be applied by classroom teachers to increase their teaching effectiveness. Based on a review of research on effective parenting, three factors were identified as being especially important to parenting success: (1) the use of affect when controlling children, (2) the organization…

This essay reviews research on mother-infant roles during early interactions and how these serve to foster the development of infant emotion regulation. It provides illustrations of the ways in which physical unavailability (resulting from hospitalization or other separation) and emotional unavailability (resulting from mental illnesses such as…

This paper discusses social and emotional development during childhood and adolescence in the United States, focusing on factors that affect children's prosocial behavior and the role of parents in promoting such behavior. It is argued that changing family structures, including the growth of single parent families and "latch-key" children, along…

This metaanalysis examined different parental variables in order to determine which best predict children's externalizing behavior. Also examined were other variables that may influence the association of parenting and externalizing, such as type of child behavior, gender of parent and child, and age of child. Parental variables included in the…

Four papers address issues related to affective competencies needed by teachers of visually handicapped students. In "Role of the Home and Parent in Enhancing Self-Concept," T. Galloway, a parent, describes her experiences in coping with her multiply handicapped child's disabilities and in helping him to feel good about himself. C. Leonard…

Stereotypically masculine men tend to adopt family roles in which they are more important symbolically, as models for power and authority, than realistically, as teachers, care takers and nurturers. For these men, nurturant-expressive involvement with their children is still the exclusive domain of women. Men who have integrated affective…

This paper presents a literature review and the author's views on the male role in parenting, including the choice not to parent. The traditional view of male parenting is reviewed, with an emphasis on the effects of the traditional paternal role on the development of children. The materials shift in focus to a broader consideration of the…

Sex differences in children's physical activity levels, and associations between girls' activity level, childrearing characteristics and parent-child play behavior were investigated in a quasi-naturalistic situation. As part of a longitudinal project, 144 third grade children were videotaped in a 1-hour play session with one of their parents. A…

Research has shown contradictory results on the relationship of infant attachment security to play and mastery behavior, at times predicting the cognitive quality of play and at other times predicting the affective quality of play. In order to test the hypotheses that, during play, attachment security would predict only positive affect,…

A study extended a previous study (Sparks and Spirek, 1988) by examining children's individual differences in coping with stressful mass media. The investigation proposed that scores on the Children's Coping Measure (CCM) are related to the intensity of negative affect children experience while watching a frightening program. Eighty-two fifth and…

To examine parental sex stereotyping of young children, a study was undertaken in spring 1993 of 59 parents and caregivers and their infant and toddler children at child care centers and schools in Arkansas. Interviews and observations were conducted of the parents/caregivers, focusing on the types of toys bought for children, the toys that the…