This brief addresses the declining presence of fathers in the rearing of their children, briefly discusses the circumstances through which fatherlessness occurs, describes current initiatives to address this problem, and suggests actions that Governors and other policymakers can take to facilitate greater involvement by fathers in the lives of…

America has two conflicting visions of equality. The first evolved during the American Revolution through the 1960s, which is identified with the phrase "equality of opportunity." The second vision, advanced since the 1960s, embraces the concept of affirmative action to redress social injustices. In an attempt to reach accord on these conflicting…

Written for parents, this book answers the following questions: (1) What is preschool about, and what are appropriate parent expectations for the experience? (2) Why should (or shouldn't) a child go to preschool, and what are reasonable alternatives to preschool? (3) When is a child, and a parent, ready for the preschool experience? (4) What are…

Using a lighthearted and simple approach, this 23-minute videotape in English and Spanish versions presents interactions between parents and children while reading books. The children in the videotape range in age from 0 to 5 years. The video is introduced by scenes of children enjoying books while narration discussing the impact of reading to…

Seventeen Ojibwa families were examined to identify: (1) the relationship between quantity and quality of father involvement in childrearing and children's academic and social school performance; and (2) antecedents to father's participation. The sample from Bay Mills Reservation in Michigan, was comprised of families containing 2 adults and a…

A child's best interest is served when parents enjoy and are satisfied with their family responsibilities. This book, for parents of children ages 2-10, illustrates how children learn their communication styles, imitate their parents, and acquire and modify their own dispositions. So that the family may be enjoyed by everyone, children need good…

This publication addresses many of the complexities of violence, and provides information to prepare educators and parents to combat violence in schools and communities. The chapters are: (1) "How Educators, Students, Parents, and Law Enforcement Officials See School Violence" (Rose M. Duhon-Sells and Halloway C. Sells); (2) "Addressing School…

This guide describes the many ways to teach bias reduction and violence prevention in order to help schools, community and religious leaders, and parents decide which project is best for their children. Some projects concentrate on changing behaviors, while others concentrate on changing attitudes as a prelude to changing behavior. Some projects…

The role of parents in school-based management is extremely important. All public schools in North Carolina are required to have school-improvement teams, which are usually composed of the principal, teachers, and parents. This handbook was designed to help parents and principals understand and define the parents' role on the school-improvement…

Spanning centuries and cultures, this book offers 2,000 perceptive and helpful quotations and proverbs that encompass a rich spectrum of reflections on all aspects of family life. The quotations are drawn from philosophers, poets, novelists, psychologists, and child development experts and are divided into the following areas: (1) everyday living,…

Most parents have two goals that seem at odds: (1) getting their teens to behave in the right way, and (2) continuing a good relationship with their teen. To maintain a good relationship, while also continuing some control, steps need to be followed that lead to expanding independence for teens. The steps can build teens' self confidence and…

The New York City Board of Education's Parent Involvement Program (PIP) was created in 1987 and the Office of Parent Involvement (OPI) was established in 1989. For the 1992-93 year, funds were distributed to 143 sites grouped into 3 cycles. Cycle 1 was a pilot program that paired previously funded and new projects, while Cycles 2 and 3 consisted…

Two brief fact sheets for families of children with disabilities provide information on: (1) advocacy and resources in augmentative communication, and (2) ways to make using augmentative communication devices fun for young children. The first fact sheet defines three types of advocacy (individual advocacy, system advocacy, and public awareness)…

This paper examines the ways kindergarten teachers can help improve the writing skills of their students who are hesitant to write. The paper describes a project that modified the physical classroom environment, nurtured the emotional climate, and used other strategies, such as allowing more time to write, modeling functional writing, and valuing…

Noting that by playing with their child, parents create a bond of intimacy important for the child's healthy development, this book describes developmental events in a baby's first 12 months and suggests play activities and their developmental purpose. Organized in a month-by-month format, the first part of each chapter presents an overview of…