Addressed to individuals providing unregulated child care in their homes, this booklet presents basic recordkeeping and tax rules. The booklet discusses the following topics: (1) child care regulations, focusing on the benefits of being regulated; (2) the business of child care, listing possible tax deductions; (3) the tax consequences of caring…

Staff (N=40) at a residential facility for 67 children with severe mental retardation rated their most- and least-preferred children on a list of child characteristics. Traits that distinguished the two groups included physical attributes, mood, behavior, and social qualities. Small children were more preferred than large children, and some…

Expansion of nonparental child care in the United States has led to increased scholarly attention to the link between home and day care experiences. This article summarizes and comments on the six central themes that define the home/day care literature, with the purpose of helping to organize existing knowledge on the home/day care link as well as…

Studied 108 adults to investigate the impact of adult attachment to parents, perceived disease severity, and caregiving behaviors, moderated by perceived caregiving adequacy. Results indicate that attachment style and the trait aspect of attachment predicted both aspects of caregiver burden. Attachment preoccupation predicted psychologic…

Studied the effect of child-adult ratio on communication patterns in six Swedish day-care centers. Detailed records of verbal interactions were studied in group for which ratio was dramatically changed. Found that high child/adult ratio leads to increased adult-initiated monologs and decreased child-initiated communication. (AJH)

Examines the training and development of early childhood professionals around most states and territories of Australia. Outlines the nomenclature used in each area to provide the context for issues raised. Examines new and existing courses, staffing, employment prospects, and career paths. Discusses what is unique about those who work with young…

Provides a history of early childhood care and education in pre- and postindependent India. Outlines current education schemes and examines the contribution of research to this area, suggesting that the current interaction between researcher and policymaker may result in more concrete promotion of early childhood programs. (TJQ)

Reports the results of a study measuring the construct "caregiver burden," as traditionally defined versus when compared to perceived stress. The Perceived Stress Scale was found to be a better predictor of mental and physical health status for 107 spouse caregivers of persons with brain injuries than was a traditional measure of…

Reviews five articles on infants and toddlers and the adults who care for them. Includes discussions of caregiver stability and attachment behavior; infants' sensory abilities; alternative public schooling for pregnant teenagers; and the psychosocial, behavioral, and developmental characteristics of toddlers prenatally exposed to cocaine. (DR)

Examined the relationships between day-care quality, children's emotional expression, and temperament among 60 3- to 5-year-olds in 26 day-care centers. Found that the appropriateness of the caregiving, but not the appropriateness of activities in the child-care center, significantly predicted the proportion of positive emotional affect in…

Details how an unplanned activity involving spinning wool presented a teachable moment for children in a family child care setting. Notes how activities related to farming, spinning wool, and using wool cloth resulted from following the children's lead. Concludes that everyday activities provide opportunities to listen to children, learn about…

Interviewed parents and caregivers to assess perceptions of their child's transition from kindergarten to Grade 1. Themes identified included: anxiety about preparing and protecting children in a system viewed as curriculum-driven; apprehension about changes in the parent/caregiver role; escaping from the school's stereotypes of the family; and…

Compares the objective (time demand and support provided) and subjective dimensions (caregiving burden) of caregiving for fathers and mothers of children and adults with mental retardation. Results based on 113 families indicate that mothers spent more time providing care, offered more types of support, and perceived more caregiving burden. (RJM)

A review of eight studies investigated the life quality of people caring for a relative with a severe disability within their family. An analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data indicate that primary caregivers are at considerable risk of high stress, clinical depression, and abnormally low subjective quality of life. (Contains…

Anticipatory grief may have beneficial effects for caregivers of people with HIV infection or AIDS. Illness duration, stigmatization, and multiple losses may impede the caregiver's ability to effectively engage in the grief process, however. Discusses the impact of these aspects of the disease on the anticipatory grief process and mourning tasks…