Mothers in Argentina, France, Japan, and the United States were observed interacting with their 5- and 13-month-old infants. Maternal speech was classified into expressions concerning affect and information. Mothers in all cultures used both classifications with their infants and spoke to older infants more than younger infants. (BC)

One study compared maternal-infant interactions in two samples: Gusii mothers in Kenya and suburban Boston mothers. A second study examined the relationship between mother-infant interaction and maternal educational attainment in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Found that maternal responsiveness was influenced by the mother's cultural background and school…

Distributions of child attachment classifications in mother-child dyads in which the mother evidenced physical or mental problems were highly divergent from distributions for normal samples. Distributions of child attachment classifications in mother-child dyads in which the child evidenced physical problems were similar to distributions in normal…

Provides an overview of how early identification and intervention for hearing impairment may benefit deaf infants' acquisition of symbolic language. Concludes that the role of the caregiver is central to the planning and success of early intervention programs for infants with deafness. (MDM)

This study examined potential discontinuity between eligibility policies for children moving from infant/toddler early intervention programs (Part H of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) to preschool special education programs (Part B). In 14 states, all children eligible under Part H would remain eligible under Part B; in 37 states,…

This article discusses ethical questions in providing prenatal services, including testing and genetic engineering, and medical interventions with neonates and other very young children who have severe disabilities. It explores ways to enhance ethical decision making, including recruitment for multidisciplinary teams or other committees of adults…

This paper is a study of systems change in services to infants and toddlers with disabilities resulting from Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Act. It examines the process of moving from federal legislation to implementation in one state (New York) and offers practical strategies to change agents in order to maximize successful systemic…

The "Parents Interacting with Infants" program was developed as an interdisciplinary early intervention human services practicum with a family orientation. The practicum's philosophy functions as a framework to support self-reflection with regard to each student's emerging professional orientation toward the delivery of family-centered,…

A set of Q-sort items to assess individual differences in infant-mother attachment was adapted for a Hispanic population of low-SES background. Completion of the Q-sort by observers and inner-city Hispanic mothers and testing of 43 infants with the Ainsworth Strange Situation established the Q-set's validity and indicated moderate reliability for…

Examined convergent and discriminant validity of eight widely used preschooler, toddler, and infant temperament questionnaires. There was surprisingly strong evidence for convergence among scales intended to measure similar concepts, with most convergent validity coefficients falling in the .50s, .60s, and .70s. (SH)

Reviews three aspects of literature on parental and nonparental child care pertaining to socioemotional development during infancy, preschool, and school-age years: (1) determinants of parenting and factors influencing parental behavior and parent-child interactions; (2) link between parent-child interactions and child development; and (3) effects…

Describes model licensing proposals for residential services for pregnant and parenting adolescents. Developed from a federally funded project, these proposals highlight licensing rules in four areas: (1) staff and training; (2) staff-client ratio; (3) program and health requirements; and (4) services to fathers. The rules represent baseline…

The development of forms and functions of negation in parent-child interactions in the early stages of language acquisition is discussed with illustrative examples from field data relating to two Tamil-speaking children and their parents. An attempt is made to provide a scheme for analyzing the negatives in children's speech. (18 references) (JL)

Answers child care center directors' questions concerning the use of the Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) vaccine and use of over-the-counter medication with children in child care. (BB)

Discusses ways for caregivers to improve sensitivity to cultural and individual differences and increase communication across cultural barriers. Offers suggestions for managing and resolving conflicts related to caregiving practices. (LB)