Examined a parent inventory measure of attachment for young children, based on observed child reunion behaviors. Factor analysis of maternal inventory responses for low income 5-year-olds yielded six factors. Sixteen of the 20 behaviors could be classified into previously established attachment categories. Discussed advantages of measure in…

Focusing on mother-child verbal interactions in two different contexts, Estonian mothers were videotaped with their 6-year-old children during mealtime and puzzle solving and were asked to fill in a questionnaire on collectivistic attitudes. Results showed mothers' frequency in engaging children in conversation was not related to children's…

Parents (N=229) of young children with handicaps in 10 states evaluated the Family Needs Survey, one instrument sometimes used to develop Individualized Family Service Plans. Overall, parents felt the survey to be useful in communicating useful information to professionals. The survey was equally acceptable to minority and low income parents.…

The study of 48 mother-father pairs of young children with handicaps tested over a two-year period found parental adjustment related to the child's communication competence and sex; satisfaction with support related to parents' adjustment to the child; and fathers' views at pretest predicted mothers' views at posttest. (DB)

Analyzed the dyadic conversational exchanges between 38 mothers and fathers and their 3.5-year-old firstborn son or daughter. Marital quality was related to gender differences in both parent and child behavior, with the least maritally adjusted fathers of daughters showing the most negativity toward their children. (MDM)

Investigates whether perceptions of literacy acquisition held by parents of young children are consistent with an emergent literacy model. Finds the following: some high-literate parents held traditional assumptions about literacy; parents supported some aspects of emergent literacy much more than they did others; and some parents retained…

Parents of 834 children (ages 3-7) rated 16 voice usage items (such as talking loudly, talking on the telephone, and singing) for frequency of occurrence. Results indicated that, as the child's age increased, voice usage became more conservative. Frequency tables for vocal behaviors across age were developed. (Author/JDD)

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the temperamental characteristics of children who do (CWS) and do not (CWNS) stutter using a norm-referenced parent-report questionnaire. Participants were 31 CWS and 31 CWNS between the ages of 3;0 (years;months) and 5;4 (CWS: mean age = 48.03 months; CWNS: mean age = 48.58 months). The CWS were…

Background: While parenting behaviours have direct effects on children's behavioural outcomes, other, more distal factors also may be shaping the way a mother handles parenting responsibilities. Dispositional factors are likely to be a major influence in determining how one parents. Although researchers have studied the relationships among…

The "sociocultural framework" highlights the contributions of children's cultural and linguistic contexts to early language and literacy development. To collaborate with parents in early intervention programs, including speech-language therapy, there must be a sincere commitment to the development of cultural competence. Hispanics are…

This study examined parental preference of play outcomes and selection of toys and assistive technology used in meeting the identified outcomes for children, birth to 3, with developmental delays. Additionally, parent satisfaction related to how well selected materials assisted their child in meeting play outcomes was measured. Participants…

We proposed a higher order latent construct of parenting young children, parenting quality. This higher-order latent construct comprises five component constructs: demographic protection, psychological distress, psychosocial maturity, moral and cognitive reflectivity, and parenting attitudes and beliefs. We evaluated this model with data provided…

A study used a paradigm in which adults believed they were teaching a simple video game to an unseen child. In fact, the adults saw computer-generated responses that were modeled on actual child behavior. Subjects were 160 mothers, who were randomly assigned to view simulations of either responsive or unresponsive behavior. The simulations of…

Findings from a national study of early intervention programs and toy libraries for handicapped children in Australia are summarized. After an introduction to theoretical concerns, chapter 2 reviews the rationale for early intervention and describes research on components of exemplary programs and on evaluation of the effectiveness of early…

In an attempt to determine the variables that best predict HOME (Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment) scores, a measure for identifying young at-risk children, 52 mothers of infants completed questionnaires based on HOME. Clinical observation of mother-child interaction was also performed. The questionnaire was found to be…