This study examined the quality of caregiver-child interaction using the Parent/Caregiver Involvement Scale with 41 preschoolers (who were prenatally exposed to cocaine) and 39 nonexposed preschoolers. Both biological mothers and foster caregivers of exposed children were significantly less emotionally and developmentally appropriate in…

Examines the mechanisms through which children with externalizing behaviors impact parents' feelings of stress and perceptions of parenting. Results, based on parent and teacher reports of 75 first-grade children, indicate that spousal support was the most important resource variable. Parents highly agreed on perceived support in childbearing.…

Looks at naturalistic samples of adult-to-child speech to determine whether variations in the input are consistent with reported variations in the proportions of nouns and verbs in children's early vocabularies. Naturalistic speech samples from English-, Italian-, and Mandarin-speaking children and their caregivers were examined. (Author/JL)

A study compared students in 4-H school-age day care programs with control groups in grades K-2, K-8, and K-12 in North Carolina. Parents, teachers, and administrators saw few behavioral changes in day care participants, but day care staff identified academic and social behavior changes. Results may have been hampered by the use of a single…

Individuals with Down syndrome (n=49) were assigned to three groups: those showing cognitive deterioration, those comparable in age, and those not showing cognitive deterioration but younger. Those experiencing cognitive deterioration were less likely to receive day services, had more impoverished life experiences, and required more support.…

Recommends talking to children to help them develop language skills. Identifies daily routines (mealtime, bath time, dressing, play) as ideal opportunities to engage in parallel talk, describing out loud what the child is seeing, hearing, or thinking during the activity and suggests self-talk as parents perform routine actions around the home.…

Presents suggestions and initiatives that day-care centers can use to help overcome the myth that men are not as well suited as women to care for infants and children. Centers need to actively recruit male staff and fully involve fathers in center activities. (MDM)

Studied number use in language by preschool children and their mothers during cooking experiences. Found that although children used a variety of number words, mothers made greater use of number words than did children. Strong relationship between reciprocal numeracy episodes (between mother and child) and child's number use suggests that adult…

Discusses ways child care personnel can develop a proactive customer service plan that meets families' needs and expectations while minimizing the probability of confrontations with angry parents. Outlines a five-step conflict-resolution strategy that offers a "win-win" approach for both parents and providers when problems do occur. (TJQ)

Discusses growth of North America's 40 largest for- profit child care centers. Identifies current threats, including staffing shortage and increasing competition from public schools and among chains. Identifies current opportunities to include employer and franchise child care, upscale child care, elementary school services, and flexible hours.…

Draws on quantitative and qualitative data to examine variation in amount and forms of day care provision among British local authorities. Notes legacy of earlier child care provision. Considers the association between provision and indicators of need and political motivation. Explores policy making process. Reflects on implications of findings…

The increase in grandparent-headed households is receiving much attention as needs and concerns of these grandparents becomes more widely known. This article describes an empowerment training project and its curriculum that was developed for a group of African-American grandparents. The program resulted in strengthened parenting skills, and…

Presents sand and water activities for young children as examples of sensory explorations, science activities, and comforting play. Includes information on health and safety precautions, adaptations for children with physical disabilities, the use of other materials, and sand and water toys made from one-liter plastic bottles. (KB)

This study investigated the effects of teaching mothers of low socioeconomic status (SES) to use decontextualized language during storybook reading with their preschool-age children. A multiple baseline design across behaviors and participants evaluated the effects of the intervention for five dyads. Mothers' and children's use of decontextualized…

Introduction: New research knowledge acquired from Web-based sources may have a better chance of being translated into practice when accompanied by additional educational strategies. This study was undertaken to investigate that hypothesis. Methods: The Rehabilitation Education Program for Stroke (REPS) combines a self-directed online learning…