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…

Notes that the critical art of parent education is to bring the parent into the child's world view. Describes current publications from NAMTA's parent education tool kit which support the child's perspective. Includes strategies for generating parent discussion to merge the parent's point of view with that of the child in dealing with conflict.…

Notes that a challenging aspect of teaching young children about families is teaching about a wide variety of fathers. Discusses how to develop and implement appropriate curriculum content about fathers and other males. Offers suggestions for identifying resources and concepts, developing and implementing learning activities, and evaluating and…

Illustrates the important role that fathers play in their infants' social and emotional development. Notes that not only are infants more socially responsive when they are securely attached to both mother and father but such a secure attachment to the father can help to prevent harmful consequences of insecure attachments. (HTH)

Reviews five selections from childhood and education periodicals on parent role characteristics, parent education and student achievement, father's child-care involvement, parenting gifted children, and family leisure and social support. (ET)

Social context and maternal style of requesting and responsiveness were examined in teaching and social interactions in relation to 28 Down's Syndrome (DS) and 28 mental-age matched normal children's cooperation and social initiative. Compliance for DS children was similar to that of normal children for child-initiated exchanges but decreased…

Discusses the conflicts arising from the child care teacher's dual role as employee and parent. Examines issues such as separation from the infant, return to work, child care arrangements, placement of the child in the same room as the parent, and nursing arrangements. Concludes that dual role must be respected. (BAC)

Using the Paternal Involvement in Childcare Index, examined father involvement in caregiving and the socialization of preschool-age children in 40 Thai and 24 American families. American fathers were more likely than Thai fathers to be involved in child care and the socialization of their children. (MDM)

Describes a home-based family literacy intervention with a mother and her four children. Highlights the importance of motivation and family involvement in developing literacy skills.(SR)

This article reviews the positive influence fathers can have on their children's development, as well as the impact the father-child relationship can have on the father's personal well-being and satisfaction. Strategies are provided for facilitating inclusion of fathers in early intervention service delivery, including involvement in play and…

Describes adolescent development in a family where children were treated as equal partners in decision making and behavior. Maintains that adolescents will grow from the relationship of shared power and responsibility. Discusses issues such as sexuality, television viewing, and athletics. (CFR)

Studied mothers' belief in the importance and modifibility (versus innateness) of children's peer relationship skills and social competence. Maternal perceptions of childrens' competence were negatively associated with the extent of mother's involvement in childrens' play, whereas the quality of supervision was predicted by knowledge of…

This article describes the communication roles of both caregivers and professionals who have contact with young children with disabilities. It presents principles that underlie adult communicative strategy use with this population, along with specific suggestions for facilitating communicative competence. (Author/DB)

Examined 5- to 11-year-old children's perceptions of the family. Children from divorced and intact families displayed similarities in their concept of family and their view of parental and spousal roles. (BB)

Presents an interview with Opal Moore, who discusses Black imagery in picture books published in the last four years and the institutions that circulate that imagery. Topics discussed include the issue of race pride; interracial themes; appropriate illustrations; African versus African-American books; and the roles of publishers, books reviewers,…