An Australian study of 110 mother-infant dyads and 85 mother-toddler dyads in which the mothers were mentally ill evaluated the effectiveness of the Mother and Child Risk Observation (MACRO). Results found that MACRO offers a convenient framework for assessing risk and interpreting the impact of maternal mental illness upon children. (Author/CR)

Asserts that parental socialization and child temperament are modestly associated with child adjustment outcomes. Suggests a conditional model of influence, in which parenting effects on child adjustment are moderated by child temperament characteristics. Outlines theoretical support, reviews empirical work compatible with the moderated model, and…

Discusses what school professionals, parents, and PTAs can do to help middle and high school students comprehend and think critically about what they read, as well as encourage them to read outside of school. For example, teachers can create cooperative groups to study portions of text, parents can model reading at home, and PTAs can organize book…

Input language addressed to language-learning children was analyzed to assess the quality of the semantic-syntactic correspondence posited by the semantic bootstrapping hypothesis. This correspondence was strong--objects were labeled with nouns, actions with verbs, attributes with adjectives--and may serve to make children's construction of…

The parents of a boy with Down syndrome and two nondisabled girls developed marital conflicts about their roles in managing the home, helping with schoolwork, spending time with the children, and setting realistic expectations for the children. They learned to more clearly express their feelings about their own needs and their children's needs.…

Studied personality change in 34 men across the transition to parenthood to determine if measurable change in men's personalities coincides with adoption of father role, and whether this change is mediated by actual involvement in fathering. Fathers' level of involvement with sons was correlated with decreased self-esteem; level of involvement…

Shares the collaboration of the authors in the development of a reading/writing, literature-based curriculum. Uses "Sesame Street" print materials to connect home and school. (MG)

The support of home and parents is a major factor in the school-to-work transition of special needs students. Survey research describes parent expectations of these students as minimal. Suggestions are offered for enhancing support for parents and their special needs students. (Author/MSE)

Investigated causes for rise in female age of marriage in Sri Lanka, studying 10,964 persons from 1,974 households. Found that rise in marriage age was not primarily a response to social pressure for fertility decline, but rather a result of urbanization, higher levels of education, unemployment, and consequent decline in parentally arranged early…

Explores the division of parenting tasks between wives and husbands in 279 Australian families containing a 9-11-year-old child, and compares the children's performance of household tasks with their parents' division of labor. The influence of socioeconomic status and cultural background on sex differences is discussed. (BJV)

Hypothesizes that traumatization underlies the difficulties many children experience from witnessing their parents' marital violence/spousal abuse, and argues that intervention should be designed to counteract post-traumatic disorders. A case study highlights this discussion. (BB)

A three-part intervention program for coping with antisocial children is examined. The three parts include parent training, academic remediation, and coping skills. (12 references) (SI)

Examines interactions between 48 mothers and their two- , three-and-a-half-, and five-year-old children during book reading sessions. Formal reading and interchange about story content increased with age and book familiarity, while labelling decreased with age and book familiarity. (RJC)

Addresses theoretical and practical topics related to the most effective ways that parents can be involved in teaching their children about religion. Features articles by Roberta Nelson, Gloria Durka, Howard Bogot, Kenneth Gangel, Delia Halverson, James and Kathleen McGinnis, J. C. Wynn, and Dorie and Ralph Underwood. (GEA)

This research review concludes that precocious reading ability is a complex skill, and levels of specific subskills vary widely among individuals. Precocious reading ability is moderately associated with general intelligence and with academic achievement. Parents may encourage the early development of reading through natural and mutually enjoyable…