This study examined the relationship between child characteristics and parents' developmental expectations for their children with developmental delays at ages 3, 7, and 11. Overall, parents' developmental expectations were associated with child characteristics, were moderately stable over time, and tended to decline as children matured.…

Objective: To assess parental beliefs that minor childhood injuries play a beneficial role in the development of young children. Methods: Mothers and fathers of 159 children, ages 15 to 40 months, completed the Injury Attitudes Questionnaire (IAQ), designed to assess parental beliefs that children "learn from" and "toughen up" as a result of…

The Internet and Web technology development have opened up new ways for people to communicate, gain new information and increase their knowledge. One particular area of interest is that of using online resources to empower informal learners to increase their knowledge at their own time and space. One could look at an online resource as a public…

This paper reports on the results of a small-scale study into the ways in which two bilingual boys attempt to manage the discontinuities between their identities at home and as members of an early years class at a mainly white primary school in the UK. To do this, a number of semi-structured interviews were undertaken with the boys and their…

This study reports the results of a cross-sectional analysis of variables associated with parents' reading to young children among participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in Texas. The participants were 600 WIC mothers visiting WIC clinics in Texas. The data were collected by survey, and…

Understanding positive, as well as negative, impact of a child with mental retardation will lead to a more balanced view of families and disability. In two studies we examined parents' perceived positive impact of a child with MR/DD. Study 1 involved 282 young adults with severe mental retardation; Study 2 involved 214 young children with, or…

Background: The quality of the family relationships plays an important role in the development of children's psychopathology and in their socio-emotional development. This longitudinal study aims to investigate whether family relationships are related to children's symptoms/strengths at kindergarten, and whether family relationships are predictors…

This study tests the hypothesis that men's and women's psychological commitment to parenting and work exerts an influence on their expectations for and perceptions of their children's behavior. Subjects were 104 fathers and 194 mothers, each with a preschool child, who were employed in a wide range of occupations. Data were collected by means of…

Discusses how beliefs, intentions, attitudes, and values determine an individual's orientation toward social and psychological events despite evidence to the contrary. Examines how parents' and educators' beliefs and attitudes allow them to ignore data relevant to child development and to support hothousing of young children. (PCB)

Excerpts from counseling sessions highlight the effects of a developmentally delayed, autistic-like child upon a marriage and family. The counselor points out the parents' continuing frustrations from not receiving clear guidelines and notes the importance of a case manager. (CL)

Discusses data from surveys assessing parents feelings about their children's play, finding that while parents believe play is important for children's development, they often believe that early academic learning is more important. Offers suggestions for early childhood educators to help parents make playtime more available to their children. (EV)

Compared the health of a group of 5-year olds who had experienced homelessness in their first five years with that of children who had never been homeless. Compared to control children, the case subjects showed a statistically greater prevalence of child protection issues and increased number of health needs. (Author/LPP)

Describes the early-intervention program experiences and perceptions of parents of children with disabilities. Discusses the perceived inability of service providers to discuss frankly the fiscal or staffing barriers to services and the emphasis on transdisciplinary teams over a family-centered philosophy. Provides recommendations for increased…

Sixty families assessed the extent of father involvement in the lives of their young children with severe intellectual disability. Parents usually agreed on extent of father involvement, highest in the areas of playing, nurturing, discipline, and deciding on services. Mothers' satisfaction with fathers' help related more strongly to indicators of…

Teachers are often confronted with parents' concern of their children's use of invented spelling. Research has found that if educators inform parents of the positive benefits associated with invented spelling, their attitudes towards its use will become more favorable. Consequently, these favorable attitudes will encourage parents to be more…