This article discusses research reported in "The Needs of Children in Care" ( Mason and Gibson, 2004) in which children participated in defining their needs in out-of-home care. In this study a central research presumption was that children are knowledgeable about their own needs. The methods used to facilitate the involvement in the project of…

This article draws on research with children who provide care for parents with serious mental health problems and signals ongoing research that uses photographic participation methods with these groups of vulnerable children. The intention of this article is to highlight the need to move away from popular and simplistic representations of children…

Explores the changes that England's Family Law Bill is undergoing. Discusses whether the 12-month period of child protection is adequate when parents are divorcing. Suggests that children should be provided with information about the divorce process, and that parents should have regard to children's views when making decisions. Claims that…

Describes the intensive interaction approach to facilitating sociability and communication in children with autism. Identifies five areas of possible mismatch between the particular needs of these children and the method. Concludes that children with autism can learn about interaction and communication through this naturalistic and supportive…

Describes experience of helping two sets of divorcing parents retain meaningful contact between young children and non-resident fathers. Argues that failure to consider past parenting practices, to grant children party status and give them independent representation, and to offer child-centered services to help parents practice shared parenting…

Examines current views in Great Britain on the genetic basis of violence and crime. Argues that evolutionary heretics have a flawed understanding of genetics and defend an anti-scientific concept of free will. Maintains that arguments within Darwinism have allowed evolutionary heretics to promote their own agenda and to continue to abuse the most…

Discusses ways that family policy conceptions of stability for children are tied to a particular family form and to maintaining continuity in biological parenting obligations, while parenting research has focused on measuring consequences of changing family forms for children. Asserts that stepfamily members have more complex understandings about…

Examined how services are used by children with severe learning disabilities living at home in London, England, the associated total and component costs, and parents' perceptions of their children's needs for health care. Found some evidence that costs were associated with greater children's needs as well as evidence for under-provision of formal…

Examines perspectives of children's rights versus carers' values in formal caregiving, such as foster and residential care. Suggests that emphasis on values is overshadowed by focus on rights, and that performance is gaining importance over relationships between carers and children. Concludes that rights and values are distinguishable and that…

Discusses the incidence and characteristics of young sexual abusers in Great Britain, incorporating studies of childhood and childhood sexuality. Considers the impact of policy and legislative changes on management of young sexual abusers. (JPB)

Uses a qualitative study on children's perceptions of their emotional needs and well-being to illustrate methodological issues associated with actively engaging child subjects in research. Describes benefits of combining focus group discussions and individual interviews, and gives examples of a range of techniques that proved helpful. (EV)

Presents research on children's understandings and use of time; findings suggest that time spent with family cannot be seen as separate from time spent with friends, at school, and on their own. Argues that the quality/quantity time conundrum needs replacing by fuller and more representative accounts of the varied aspects of time that matter for…

Studied 205 children who were subjects of child protection investigations in 1995 in England. Found that for the vast majority, welfare needs were ignored in the process of investigation. Identified the need to refocus investigations and suggested criteria to be used to provide a clearer focus on whether to investigate a referral. (Author/LPP)

Discusses changes in pediatric knowledge and practice necessary to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century. Considers the importance of the "new morbidity" training for pediatricians to include advocacy, public health, adolescence, health promotion, parenting and family dynamics, health and social inequalities, and social…

Examined 12- to 14-year-olds' understanding of mental health and illness, responses to negative feelings, and perceived differences between themselves and adults. Found that the term "mental health" was little understood. Relationships with family and friends were considered a positive influence. Youth, especially boys, reported…