The relationship between different measures of maternal directiveness and different measures of referential style were investigated in the same group of eight mother-infant dyads. Findings suggest that the attentional regulation hypothesis may be less valuable as a means of explaining stylistic variation in early vocabulary composition. (15…

Discusses the role of clear, honest communication in building effective school-parent partnerships. Offers several suggestions to help establish communication between school or child care facility staff and the families served, including newsletters, parent communication centers, parent libraries, home visits, letters and postcards, telephone…

The use of self-psychology, a theory first developed by Heinz Kohut, is discussed and illustrated with case examples from child welfare practice. The cases demonstrate that self-psychology can enhance an ecological model. The ways in which self-psychology can enrich the social worker's therapeutic role in permanency planning are emphasized.…

Describes the "Magical PAIR" (Parents Actively Involved in Reading) program, initiated by a reading center for grades one through five, that is based on the premise that parents are a critical link to a successful reading program. (MG)

Discusses strategies for parents in curtailing the use of alcohol and drugs in their children's schools. Three key areas are explored: (1) learning the facts about alcohol and other drug use among young people; (2) practicing prevention at home; (3) working with the school to develop good prevention programs. (GLR)

Play teaches children about themselves and the world they live in, engaging them socially, physically, intellectually, and creatively. Parents must allow their children time to play; they must participate in the play to help their children learn and to foster a sense of intimacy. (SM)

Research consistently shows links between eating breakfast and learning. Many resources, including the National School Breakfast Program, are available to help parents who cannot provide breakfast at home. The article offers suggestions to help parents make creative, child-pleasing breakfasts and become active in planning school breakfasts. (SM)

Discusses social justice in education, specifically gender issues. Explores how rightist governments in advanced industrialized societies have tried to implement an agenda of parental choice and standards, in contrast to earlier liberal administrations' efforts to reduce differences between families and involve mothers in children's education.…

Notes that many school counseling programs designed to help children of divorce focus on child and custodial parent, usually mother. Contends that, to help child cope with divorce and maintain academic performance level in school, counselor needs to involve child's noncustodial father as well. Considers fathers in therapy, examines characteristics…

Explores the challenge of keeping parents involved in their children's education beyond the elementary school years. Suggests the invitational model as proactive approach for keeping parents involved in the lives of their children, particularly during the transition years of middle school education. As background, discusses nature of…

Examined extent of paternal involvement and fathers' and children's perceptions toward their relationships among Japanese and American fathers and their adolescent children. Found American fathers spent more time with their children. Although American children's perceptions toward their fathers were associated with such interaction, Japanese…

Despite recent changes in role options available to many women, a strong link continues to be reinforced among the issues of sexuality, maternity, and womanhood. Paper explores the implications of this maternal imperative for sexual self-esteem of heterosexual women without children. Four recommendations are made for working with women who, for…

Uses longitudinal data on sibling pairs from the National Longitudinal Study of Youth to investigate the influence of father presence on behavioral and cognitive outcomes for children. Results indicate that children who live in one-parent families exhibit more behavioral problems and have lower mathematics and reading ability than children in…

Examines the influences of supportive and conflictual mother/daughter relationships on depressive symptoms expressed by African-American and White teenage mothers and grandmothers. Findings indicated that African-American teenage mothers were more likely than White mothers to report childrearing conflicts with grandmothers. Discusses implications…

Summarizes research on the impact of televised violence on children. Discusses parents' role and what parents can do to mitigate the impact of televised violence, including starting early to influence children's exposure to television, setting and maintaining family rules regarding television viewing, and changing one's own viewing habits. (KB)