Studied directives which mothers and fathers addressed to their preschool children. Fathers produced more directives than mothers and tended to phrase them as imperatives. No differences were found in parental directives to girls and boys. Thus, children appear to learn to request action in sex-associated ways through parental modeling. (GC)

Observation of 18 three-year-old boys revealed that they reacted more positively to both of their parents when their play style was more physical and active, resembling the typical paternal style. (Author/BJV)

Examined encouragement patterns, parental opportunity awareness, and family affect in order to assess the impact of parent-child interaction on child's attainment values. Found that the variables examined accounted for more of the variation in sons' attainment than daughters' attainment. (Author/GC)

Examines the extent of mothers' and fathers' involvement in children's play, and stylistic variations in that play. Results from 35 preschool children from multiethnic families reveal boys played differently than girls and parental involvement was also different. Parent's different interactions with sons' versus daughters' playing shows that…

Examines interaction and gender role socialization for 20 parent-child dyads in intact families. Play patterns of parents and children were not typically gender stereotyped. Results suggest a change in parents' perceptions about what is acceptable gender-typing behavior, possibly reflecting a realization that some toys are more socially acceptable…

Examines the informal support systems of older, recently widowed, urban females. Finds that widows with no sons receive little traditionally male types of support, but that widows with no daughters receive as much traditionally female types of support as those with daughters. (FMW)