The contentious nature-nurture debate in developmental psychology is poised to reach a rapprochement with contemporary concepts of gene-environment interaction, transaction, and fit. Discoveries over the past decade have revealed how neither genes nor the environment offers a sufficient window into human development. Rather, the most important…

A prospective study examined the effects of maternal unresponsivity and of toddlers' own negative affect on the child's subsequent ability to use effective attentional control strategies in preschool. Maternal and child behaviors were measured in situations that varied in the level of stress to test the hypothesis that behaviors in high stress…

This article introduces methods for increasing and improving play skills in children with autistic spectrum disorders. Behavioral techniques that are reviewed include discrete trial training, use of stereotyped behaviors to increase play skills, pivotal response training, reciprocal imitation training, differential reinforcement of appropriate…

Discusses a cognitive-social learning model of social skills training to assist young children to greater levels of peer acceptance. Details the model's three components: enhancing skill concepts, promoting skill performance, and fostering skill maintenance and generalization. Emphasizes that trainers must understand the model as well as the…

The authors examined the effects of maternal depression on the skillfulness of toddlers' self-assertive strategies in interactions with their mother and with a female examiner. The participants were 110 mothers and their 26-month-old toddlers. Of these mothers, 57 had experienced an episode of clinical depression sometime since their child's…

The reliability of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) rating scales in children with mental retardation was assessed. Parents, teachers, and teaching assistants completed ADHD rating scales on 48 children aged 5-12 diagnosed with mental retardation. Measures included the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Conners Rating Scales, the…

We describe the historic and current use of brief experimental analysis procedures in outpatient clinic and home settings. We discuss some applications of the designs and suggest design modifications for improving internal validity. We describe our application of the designs to longitudinal, in-home programs for children with severe behavior…

This study investigated the combination of mothers' and fathers' parenting styles (affection, behavioral control, and psychological control) that would be most influential in predicting their children's internal and external problem behaviors. A total of 196 children (aged 5-6 years) were followed up six times from kindergarten to the second grade…

Lines of communication are often blurred in early childhood settings and relationships need to be reestablished regularly as children move through a program. In addition, the parent-teacher-child relationship is a triad that is built upon trust and need and not a clear hierarchy. This article discusses the following issues brought up during a…

Adopting an ecological framework, this study examines the role of community violence exposure, interpartner conflict, positive parenting, and informal social support in predicting the social skills and behavior problems of low-income African American preschoolers. Participants were 184 African American mothers and female caregivers of Head Start…

Using data from a sample of 455 African American children (ages 10 to 12 years) and their parents, this study tests a hypothesized model linking (a) maternal work demands to family routines through work-family conflict and depressive symptoms and (b) maternal work demands to children's externalizing and internalizing problems through family…

Background: Youth violence and related aggressive behaviors have become serious public health issues with physical, economic, social, and psychological impacts and consequences. This study identified and evaluated the characteristics of successful school-based violence prevention programs. Methods: Twenty-six randomized controlled trial (RCT),…

Background: This paper is the result of our interest in preventing adaptation problems (delinquency, academic failure and absenteeism at school, drug use, etc.) in young children and adolescents at risk, as well as the need to develop effective programmes adapted to the population in the Balearic Islands (Spain). Purpose: The objective of this…

This document is a compendium of indicators--drawn from the most reliable official statistics--illustrative of both the promises and the difficulties confronting our Nation's young people. The report summarizes 38 key indicators of child well-being and monitors changes in these indicators. The 38 indicators depict the well-being of children in the…

In a community sample of 116 children, assessments of parent-child interaction, parent-child attachment, and various parental, child, and contextual characteristics at 15 and 28 months and at age 5 were used to predict externalizing behavior at age 5, as rated by parents and teachers. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis and path analysis…