Taking a different perspective to traditional case studies on one bilingual child, this book discusses the whole family and the realities of life with two or more children and languages. What do we know about the language patterns of children in a growing and evolving bilingual family? Which languages do the siblings prefer to speak to each other?…

One-child households have doubled over the last two decades making it one of the fastest growing family units in America. The author aids families in understanding the common traits of many adult "onlies"--like shyness, perfection, and intolerance--so that they can better prepare for potential outcomes. He also celebrates the positive qualities of…

Fertility rates have fallen dramatically around the world. In some countries, there are no longer enough children being born to replace adult populations. The disappearance of children is a matter of concern matched only by fears that childhood is becoming too structured or not structured enough, too short or too long, or just simply too different…

The link between women's education and fertility traces the pattern of modernization and demographic transition of a rural setting in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The study presents the conceptual framework underlying the analysis, background information on female status and on the demographic situation, and an outline of conditions existing…

This volume in the Applied Developmental Psychology Series consists of a collection of papers on current sibling research and theory. Prominent researchers and academicians in developmental psychology present reports on aspects of sibling relations in an effort to better understand individual and family growth. These scholars have dealt with…

Drawing on census and survey data from 1940 to 1990, this book offers an overview of the dramatic transformations in American childhood over the past 50 years and presents the case for overhauling national child welfare policies. The first chapter examines the life course of children and provides an introduction to the remainder of the book.…

Perceived declines in student achievement and family environment and the perceived ineffectiveness of increases in educational expenditures have stimulated the present investigation, which focuses primarily on estimating the change in achievement test scores that can be attributed to changing family and demographic characteristics. Family…

Discusses decisions to have children and problems faced by married Soviet students with children. Emphasizes the difficulties brought on by an acute housing shortage and long waiting lists at day care nurseries and kindergartens. Finds that, although grades tend to rise for married students, often performance declines after the birth of children.…

The attitudes of young Chinese people toward family formation are examined giving insights to the varying attitudes of young men and women according to rural or urban setting, educational levels, types of employment, economic status, and proximity to centers of economic and social development. Information is also provided on population policies…

Recognizing the great variety of families in which children live, this book for children in upper elementary grades and their parents and teachers illustrates that variety through children's personal narratives about their families and descriptions of family activities. Section 1, "Families," presents the narratives of children ages 8 to 18 years…