Explores the different forms of diversity found in families and family life in western societies. Distinguishes five types of moral values that families teach, examining the potential of each for diversity. States that a balance among the rights of families, schools, and children, who can develop into autonomous moral agents, is required. (CMK)

Describes the Chatham-Savannah Youth Futures Authority (YFA) program designed to help eliminate problems of urban youth, and analyzes the YFA with a focus on problems associated with female-headed, urban, black families. A summary of research is provided followed by a discussion of the conceptual model used as a basis for the program and an…

The number of felony-murder convictions of adolescents on death row in the United States is arguably a warning beacon about the serious nature of juvenile homicide. Reviews the research on adolescent homicide and highlights significant family variables. The contribution of a family studies perspective for understanding adolescent homicide is…

Evaluates the effectiveness of a parent-child drug education program through a study of 1,447 4th-, 5th-, and 6th-grade students and 2,036 of their parents. Results indicate the program produced changes in the responses of children and their parents to questions concerning attitudes, use, perceptions of use, and intended use of drugs. (KW)

A sample of 364 homeless adolescents was interviewed about residential and family histories. Results indicate the youth came from generally troubled backgrounds and had elevated rates of psychiatric disorders. Boys' histories typically included physical abuse and girls' histories were more often marked by sexual abuse. (Contains references.)…

Examines views of early childhood theorists and educators regarding work in the lives of young children. Discusses young children's performance of chores around the world, work opportunities in one U.S. child care center, expanding chore choices in child care and early education settings, developmental issues related to work, and the promotion of…

Focuses on how the migration of Vietnamese to the United States affected the women's roles within their families and society. Discusses how Vietnamese women ensured familial stability by maintaining a balance between U.S. and Vietnamese cultures. Provides an annotated bibliography. (CMK)

Examines children's participation in public life in relation to the tension between control and self-realization found in late modernity. Argues that social tension is created through the conflict between recognition of children as persons in their own right and public policy marked by intensification of control of children creating a view of…

Describes life in the mestizo society during the Spanish colonial rule of California. Addresses such topics as, but not limited to, racial diversity and socioracial stratification of the population, what life was like for the families of soldiers and settlers, and the size of the families in California. (CMK)

Investigated the relationship between sleep patterns and behavioral adjustment with 4- to 5-year-old children from low-income families. Found that disrupted child sleep patterns, including variability in parentally reported amount of sleep, variability in bedtime, and lateness of bedtime, predicted less optimal adjustment in preschool, even after…

This article reviews issues related to the development of young children adopted from Eastern Europe. Medical considerations, growth and developmental delays, sensory processing difficulties, and social and emotional development of institutionalized children are discussed. Issues are considered in light of their effects on child and family…

Discusses the life of Benny Andrews, a recognized artist, cultural leader, and storyteller, and the importance of narrative in his artwork. Provides an interdisciplinary project where the students analyze Andrews'"Autobiographical Series," discuss the series as a form of storytelling, and then write their own family story. (CMK)

Argues that beyond explanations predicated on psychological ideas of separation and attachment, "nervios," a depression-like disorder among children in the southern Ecuadorian Andes, reflects the limits of children's abilities to accept terms of family life increasingly defined through transnational migration and new consumption…

Media portrayals of stepfamilies influence societal views of stepfamilies and individuals' expectations for remarriage and stepfamily life. This study examines portrayals of stepfamilies in films released in 1990 through 2003. Using content analysis to understand how stepfamilies are portrayed and to identify film clips appropriate for use in…

The daily educational experiences of a young child affect not only the child but also the family. The time and energy a family invests to achieve optimal educational experiences will likely impact the whole family system. As such, early education service providers are responsible for decreasing the challenges that parents experience so that…