Analyzes how young boys adopt a definition of masculinity as avoiding whatever is done by girls, and explains the notion of "fighting boys" behavior and how this understanding of masculinity leads to scorn and rejection towards girls as a group. Teachers are encouraged to teach that "fighting boys" behavior is not equated with classroom or…

In a year-long participant observation study of remediative action following child injury, 61 children ages 8 and 9 and their mothers wrote records and, in biweekly interviews, reported on more than 1,000 minor injuries. Found that remediative action was related to type of child activity and to mother's affect and beliefs. (MDM)

Two studies had parents describe the characteristics of the most prosocial two- and five-year olds they knew and rate the relative importance of each attribute in defining a child as prosocial. Results indicated more similarities than differences between the two age groups and suggested that research has underrepresented the rich repertoire of…

Studied whether behavioral styles at age 3 are linked to personality traits at age 18 after identifying 5 temperament groups (undercontrolled, inhibited, confident, reserved, and well-adjusted). Results pointed to continuities across time. (DR)

Assessed child behavior, maternal depression, and family socioeconomic status and observed mother-child interactions for 376 first graders and their mothers. Found that the quality of mother-child interactions mediated the relationship between maternal depression and child behavior problems for boys, girls, and Caucasians but not for African…

Two cases of treating chronic aerophagia (air swallowing) in children are presented. The first combined suggestions, covert desensitization, and positive reinforcement of nonaerophagic behavior. In the second, the child was taught a response which was incompatible with air swallowing. Differential reinforcements were used for the…

Discusses the renaissance of motor skill acquisition studies that are affording new insights into the processes by which infants and children learn to control their bodies. The article explains how studies are now focusing less on how children perform and more on how the components cooperate to produce stability or engender change, thus making…

Notes that fear has the potential to interfere with the young child's quality of life, and offers some understanding of the nature and normal developmental course of early childhood fears. Discusses reasons for fearful behavior and different temperament types. Offers suggestions on how adults can help children cope with fear and how teachers can…

Discusses five environmental dimensions (hardness/softness, open/closed, simple/complex, intrusion/seclusion, and high mobility/low mobility) that affect the experiences of children in day-care centers, demonstrating how to consider these dimensions in solving typical problems in child care settings. (MDM)

Studied the structure and psychometric properties of a self-report measure of adolescents' helping behavior within the family. Factor analyses yielded four internally consistent subscales for the Sibling Helping Scale and five for the Parent Helping Scale, all of which were conceptually related to inventories reflecting family support among…

Tested theory that family context largely determines parent-adolescent conflict. Results from data collected on 335 families over a 4-year period showed that families exhibiting warmth and supportiveness experienced successful negotiations of disagreements between parents and adolescent children, whereas hostile, coercive conditions led to…

Examined relationships among childrearing, parental locus of control about childrearing, and child's behavior style. Found that parents who perceived their child's behavior as either externalizing or internalizing had a weak internal locus of control and were more authoritarian. Perceived externalizing child behavior was positively related to…

The effects of parental control on child behavior were examined in a survey of 473 fifth, eighth, and tenth graders, who completed measures on parent behavior, family functioning, and their own behavior. The study found that psychological control was more predictive of adolescent internalized problems, whereas behavioral control was more…

Reviews recent research on children's peer conflicts, examining the structure, participant characteristics, and social and physical context of these conflicts. Explores how children's conflicts are complex social interactions, embracing a wide range of issues, strategies, and outcomes. Discusses implications for teachers. (MDM)

Observation of 143 families with children in early/midchildhood had greater predictive power than self-report. Boys' school behavior and academic performance were more influenced by parents' marital relationship and family organization. Girls were more influenced by marital communication style and the affective quality of family interaction. (SK)