Examined the relationship between mothers' reports of their early attachment experiences and the quality of their current relationships with their youngest child, partner, mother, and father. Evaluated the argument that early attachment experiences provide mental models for all future relationships. Found that memories of early attachment…

This study addressed whether early childhood teacher education programs can effectively prepare graduates to work with children across the entire 0-8 years age span, by profiling two student teachers. Data from their final practicums suggested that generalist programs can offer effective preparation for entry into the early childhood teaching…

Explores provision of early childhood services, particularly day care, within the framework of welfare policies and the concept of need. Outlines the development of day care policy in Britain and considers how, within current policy of targeting children with "need," local authorities might make provision available to a wider range of families, in…

Briefly reviews modes of HIV transmission and course of the disease, then focuses on its effects on children's development and learning. Describes treatments, therapies, and possible educational interventions. Challenges educators to learn more effective methods of helping these children improve their learning potential and quality of life. (EV)

Examined effects on target children's sociodramatic role play of sociodramatic script training in combination with an intervention package consisting of peer role prompting, a group-oriented reinforcement contingency, and visual feedback. Found support for use, with a minimum of teacher involvement, of the peer-mediated intervention package in…

Studied the measurement equivalence of the HOME (Home Observation for Measurement of Environment) inventory in Jamaica. Found that the factor structure in the Jamaican sample was similar to the existing HOME but not an equivalent match. Also found that items related to direct cognitive stimulation by the caregiver are more relevant…

Outlines strategies for helping young children deal with social and developmental problems through reading--bibliotherapy. Recommends books in a number of problem areas confronting young children, including adoption, anger and other emotions, family relationships, fear and fantasy, foster care, moving, peers and school, single-parent and blended…

Examined the frequency of intergenerational disagreement reported by mothers and adolescents as a function of the quality of their interaction and the match between their sexual attitudes. Found that differences in sexual attitudes were more strongly linked to interfamily disagreement in low quality of mother-child interaction families than in…

Discusses results of the first survey of an entire English county of parents' knowledge of drugs and drug issues, embracing parents of younger as well as older children. Asserts that results establish need for more coordinated, informed, and systematic guidance to parents and a strengthened relationship between school drug programs and parents.…

Assessed continuity and change in diagnosis, intelligence, and language skills in children with autism, Down Syndrome, and other developmental delays, identifying precursors of gains in language skills and peer engagement in mid-school years. Found that early nonverbal communication and play skills predicted initiations of peer play for Down…

Discusses methodological problems of Sigman and Ruskin's longitudinal study. Questions whether determination of specificity, universality, and uniqueness is appropriately addressed by between-syndrome comparisons. Describes problems with group matching, offers a method of partially correcting them, and argues that group designs have limited…

Addresses questions about group comparisons and the extent to which the original Sigman and Ruskin study identified specific, unique, and universal deficits in autism. Considers the alternate methodology for measuring improvements in the performance of children with Down syndrome and autism. (JPB)

Discusses a theoretical rationale for studying family narratives as indicators of family functioning and influence on child development. Considers the development of a multidimensional coding scheme for these narratives. Presents analyses conducted across four study sites, including data on interrater reliability, confirmatory factor analysis, and…

The Syracuse Dinnertime project investigated the relationship between family dinnertime rituals and narratives and child behavior. Findings indicated that couples that worked together to tell their family story also worked together and with their children in positive dinnertime exchanges. Narratives were not significantly related to child behavior…

Examined family narratives among adoptive parents. Found that individual interviews of parents in open adoptions showed greater narrative coherence than those with parents in mediated adoptions; joint interviews produced greater narrative coherence than individual interviews; more coherence in joint interviews was correlated with partners' greater…