To assess the impact of maternal employment on the development of school-age children, several issues must be considered: the necessity of a two-income family, the existence of family-friendly policies at work and at school, the involvement of both parents in parenting, and the child's experience during after-school hours. Contains 30 references…

The influence of stress as mediated or moderated by locus of control, family environment, social support, and coping style on psychological adjustment and school performance was studied for 164 urban ninth graders. External locus of control increased vulnerability for both sexes, but gender differences in other protective functions are discussed.…

Examined the role of biological factors, such as perinatal complications, and psychological factors, such as maternal attitudes, in predicting developmental outcomes in preterm children. Findings support the main effects model of biological and environmental factors in explaining developmental psychopathology, but also the interactional model, as…

Examined home literacy environments of four children from low-income Caucasian, African American, or biracial families. Found that all the parents provided support for literacy but with different constructions; children's descriptions of how they were learning to read at home reflected their home literacy experiences; and all four environments…

This article is concerned with the learning of mathematics before the commencement of formal schooling. Describes the experiences of two students from four main sets of data: formal and informal measures of mathematics achievement, the learning environment in the home, and observations during teacher-led sessions concerned with mathematical…

The roles of risk and protective factors were studied in 74 male and 105 female adolescents from a middle and lower income northeastern school district. Protective factors (family cohesion, locus of control mother/father communication, and relationships with a nonparent adult) were highly context-specific but were powerful predictors of…

Data from the National Longitudinal Surveys of Labor Market Experience of Youth are used to examine and contrast the effects of family context and individual characteristics on adolescents' expectations about adolescent fertility, nonmarital childbearing, family size, and childlessness. Socioeconomic and racial patterns are identified. (SLD)

Responses to a family-values questionnaire administered to 678 members of 226 3-person families (2 parents and 1 child) from rural and urban Greece indicate that acculturation of traditional family values differs for urban and rural environment, gender, and generation. Analysis suggests a trend toward individual not traditional collectivist…

The problems of rural children are discussed. Rural children are threatened by many of the same social and health problems that urban children face, complicated by distance, which affects access to health care and other services. Recommendations are made to assure that rural children receive the services they need. (SLD)

Relates an interview focusing on the traditional Assiniboine view of the family. Discusses philosophy and religion, economics, and the destruction and reconstruction of the family. Discusses the W. K. Kellogg Foundation's effort to develop a model of family services that will help Assiniboine and other Native-American students succeed in higher…

Parents of young adults with developmental disabilities transitioning from mandated school services to adult services may face dilemmas when decisions present conflicting choices with equally problematic outcomes for the family. A questionnaire was administered to 103 families to determine which potential dilemmas were most significant for…

Highlights and reviews a number of children's and young adult books that feature homeless children and families. Broadly categorizes the books according to qualities and plot elements, including appreciation of people, nonstereotypical portrayals, positive tone, and story appeal. Offers a bibliography of 24 recommended books. (MJP)

Describes the development of the Early Adolescent version of the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (EA-HOME) Inventory. Presents information on its usefulness with African Americans, Chinese Americans, European Americans, Mexican Americans, and Dominican Americans. Notes findings indicating high interobserver agreement, with…

Explored the assessment of family processes for African American kindergarten children, parents, and teachers involved in the EARLY ALLIANCE prevention trial. Regression analyses examined the relationship of family processes to child social and academic competence, problem behavior, and early reading achievement. Family structure, family cohesion,…

Examined frequency with which children were exposed to various parental actions, materials, events, and conditions as part of their home environments, and how these exposures related to well-being. Found the most consistent relations between learning stimulation and children's developmental status, with relations for parental responsiveness and…