Examines variations in the relationships among child characteristics, parenting stress, and parental involvement. Analyses revealed significant, yet somewhat different, associations between child temperament and parental stress for mothers and fathers. More significant associations were found between perceptions of child temperament and…

Presents biosocial model of human paternal care allowing paternal allocations to be influenced by changes in welfare of recipient offspring and effects on the man's relationship with the child's mother. Results from test of model with adult males in New Mexico are consistent with a role for relationship effort in parental care: men invest more in…

Presents a simple everyday science activity concerning fingerprints for children and their families to do together. Includes a description and the procedure for the activity. (KHR)

Examines factors predicting participant engagement in a parent-centered, substance abuse preventive intervention. Results indicate that caregiver need for the intervention and family systems variables significantly predicted initial engagement in the intervention, while demographic variables, stressful life circumstances, and family stress failed…

California state initiatives designed to involve parents fell into four categories: government, client services, parents as teachers, and parents as parents. These initiatives, aligned with the state's curriculum reform strategies, required a five-year action plan for enabling school districts to develop local policies and plans that would involve…

"The Executive Educator" inaugurates its "Profiles in Excellence" series by honoring 10 schools and principals who have made outstanding efforts to increase parents' involvement in their children's education. Chosen by a panel of preeminent judges, this year's winners, from eastern and midwestern states, will each receive an…

A generation after President Lyndon Johnson declared an official War on Poverty, nearly one-fifth of America's youngest citizens still grow up poor. The younger the child, the greater the chances of its being poor. Congress, the states, and local communities must rewrite the options of opportunity for these children. A resource list is provided.…

The family dimensions of 24 Individualized Family Service Plans written for infants/toddlers with handicaps and their families were examined to determine the presence of key legislative requirements, the domains of family goals, structural dimensions, level of parent involvement, and time parameters for goal attainment. Issues surrounding family…

Explores proactive and reactive parental behavior among 24 mothers and their first-born children whose ages ranged from 27 to 45 months. Children responded to proactive behavior as compared to reactive behavior by engaging in acceptable behaviors for longer periods and by violating fewer rules. (RJC)

Investigates the relation between 48 mothers' perceptions of control over the termination of their 5-month-old infants' cries and the infant's security attachment at 16 months. Insecure infant attachment was associated with maternal perception of overcontrol. (RJC)

The overview of migrant education for special educators considers the educational needs of migrants, migrant education personnel, migrant student record transfer system, interstate cooperation, and parent involvement. (DB)

Reviews research on playgroups in the United Kingdom. The review finds that the majority of children attend playgroup at some stage; parental involvement is higher in playgroups than in other preschool services; and attendance at preschool appears to have benefits to the child. (RJC)

The telephone survey of 1703 parents found little difference between parents of regular education students and parents of special education students in parental satisfaction with the schools or in parental involvement. (DB)

Even schools with well-developed volunteer training programs overlook vast opportunities for curricular enrichment through use of parent volunteers' varied skills. These are three categories of parents' competencies: skills in hobbies and crafts, direct knowledge and experience concerning occupations, and knowledge about different cultures. (MLH)

Dynamic home-school-community partnerships established through site councils can help produce improved schools that serve their communities better. Parents on the council must be careful to represent diverse segments of the student body. Members need both proper orientation and a constitution to be effective. Includes three references. (MLH)