To explore the effects of family functioning on problem behaviour among Chinese preschool children, 1,025 preschool parents were assessed using the family assessment device, child problem behaviour scale, and parent-child relationship scale through a random sampling method. Based on the McMaster model of family functioning and the Process Person…

This study tested potential mediating effects of household screen media experience (HSME) on the relationship between SES and six aspects of preschooler's sociality: social cognition, independence, aggression, social adaptivity, peer relationship and emotional control. A total of 471 parents of 3- to 6-year-old children completed an online…

Families' mealtime talk has significant implications for children's language development. This study investigated five middle-class Australian Chinese families that differ in their lifestyles and meal routines. It aims to explore: (1) the nature of the Chinese parents' language use in interactions with children at mealtime; and (2) the factors…

This systematic literature review is an exploration of issues for adoptive families throughout the adoption process and into the various phases of the life of the adoptive family. Although there has been much recent research related to adoption, in general, very little adoption literature addresses the often unspoken needs of families who want to…

The aim of this article is to introduce the use of the child diary as a method in daily diary research. By describing the research process and detailing its structure, a child diary, a structured booklet in which children's parents and day-care personnel (N = 54 children) reported their observations, was evaluated. The participants reported the…

As more children are diagnosed at a younger age with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), a new population of families is growing requiring services. Little is known about their characteristics and need for support. Instead, past research has tended to focus on specialist assessments and interventions. Over 100 parents with a child aged under five…

Discusses ways in which Australian families may be supported by government policies in the 1990s. Topics include conservatism and family issues; changing trends; basic resources for families; and the process of mobilizing community support. (RJC)

Discusses a sibling support group for 7-13-year-old siblings of developmentally delayed children. Describes group sessions and family responses to the program. (RJC)

Describes the Hunter Caravan Project of Australia, which was designed to improve direct services for children and address the needs of parents and families living in caravan parks. (RJC)

Criticizes systems theory for providing an inappropriate model of the family. Proposes that the family should be conceived of as a matrix of interlocking experiences. (RJC)

Families in individual-orientated Western society spend little time together and tend to focus on accomplishments rather than belonging. Proposes that human development is not an individual but a group process and that a nest of ongoing support during childhood encourages a sense of belonging. This support should include at least 10 minutes of…

Discusses definitions of family; forms of language and communication; and beliefs about health, illness, and disability that need to be understood by those involved in early intervention programs for young children with disabilities and their families. (PCB)

Examines the place of children's work in family life, paying particular attention to the way in which expectations regarding work are based on underlying concepts of children, parenting, and obligations among family members. (PCB)

Reports the results of a caseworker survey exploring characteristics associated with the stability of foster care. The survey was developed from a national profile of the child likely to experience unstable foster care resulting in replacement. Findings and implications are discussed. (Author/DST)

Compares family life, child rearing, and education in the Soviet Union and the United States in the 1980s. (PCB)