The question of whether corporal punishment is an effective method of discipline has been hotly debated by parents, teachers, and child-rearing experts. Based on studies of over 9,000 families, this book describes the extent to which parents in the United States use corporal punishment (such as spanking and slapping) and its effects on their…

Noting the relatively few studies that have examined the individual contributions that mothers and fathers make to their children's schooling, this study examined the extent to which resident (excluding foster) and nonresident fathers are involved in their children's schools, and the influence their involvement has on how their children are doing…

Many studies have found that literacy exists in low-SES (low socioeconomic status) children's daily lives--it is the meaning, frequency of use, depth, and general use of literacy at home that affect the children's progress in school. Research studies clearly show differences in home literacy development of low-SES and higher income children that…

Describing the characteristics and attitudes of a nationally representative sample of 36,000 students in grades 3, 7, and 11, this report details the specific features of reading instruction, how students approach their reading tasks, student reading experiences, and the home and school supports to academic achievement. The report is based the…

This study explores continuities and discontinuities between patterns of question use during lessons in a bilingual classroom and in the homes of two Spanish-dominant Puerto Rican kindergartners. Ethnographic techniques, including participant observation, audiotaping, and interviews were used to collect data in the classroom and the homes over the…

A study investigated the English language acquisition of three native Spanish-speaking children in a bilingual preschool, focusing on the spontaneous use of English when play-acting at being superhero figures from popular children's culture. The occurrence of this voice is contrasted with the children's use of Spanish for other types of play and…

This study explored how American and Taiwanese students viewed the ideal model of a healthy family in the 1980s and showed that contemporary families are changing and coping, not breaking up and dying. The subjects were 649 students from six universities in Indiana and Taiwan. The questionnaire was composed of 127 items that focused on five…

This study assessed the relationship between success or non-success among siblings and their self-esteem levels and childhood family experiences. Thirty subjects divided in 15 subgroups of male and female siblings were studied; success was defined by membership in the country club. A three-part self-administered questionnaire was given to each…

This newsletter theme issue deals with the phenomenon of mobility or transience in India, Kenya, Greece, Ireland, Malaysia, Thailand and Israel. The primary focus is on mobility's effect on young children, specifically their health and education; some of the broader concerns also addressed by the newsletter are the causes of mobility and its…

Using information from four national surveys and a decade of research, this book demonstrates the connection between family structure and a child's prospects for success. It shows how divorce, particularly with often-attendant drops in income, parental involvement, and access to community resources, diminishes children's chances for wellbeing. It…

This paper presents findings of a study that investigated the extent to which homeless children in the United States receive the "free and appropriate education" to which they are entitled. Data were collected through several surveys conducted in two San Francisco Bay Area counties: (1) surveys of parents in homeless shelters with 313…

This special supplement presents two background papers, three working papers, and key recommendations from a conference on culture and chronic illness in childhood. The meeting had as its goal the identification of the state of knowledge on the interface among culture, chronic illness, child development, and family functioning, for the purpose of…

This guide offers Head Start staff training in how to prevent, or identify and respond to family crises in ways that can build resiliency in families. Following an introductory section, the guide presents four training modules. Each module details expected outcomes, key concepts, background information, learning activities, and next steps.…

This guide is for parents of children with disabilities who require the help of a machine or device for some life-sustaining activity such as breathing or eating. Following an introduction, chapter 1 is on preparing for the child's return home including parent training, community-based services, and obtaining funding for home care. Chapter 2, on…

Help for educators in meeting the challenge of involving parents and extended families of at-risk children is offered in this report. Twenty-eight chapters provide information to help educators communicate with low-income, nonwhite, and non-English speaking parents. Part 1 identifies the at-risk population, the benefits and forms of family…