A qualitative study was done to investigate how adult children become caregivers to older parents with functional impairments and what roles their own children adopt in their family's care arrangement. Interviews revealed five influences on children and grandchildren's adoption of caregiver roles: expectations; family rules; religious training;…

This generously illustrated booklet offers practical suggestions for helping young children appreciate the importance of acting responsibly in their everyday lives, and provides ideas and activities for parents to help encourage responsible behavior in their children. After defining responsible behavior and suggesting how parents can encourage it,…

To know the culture of a nation one must try to understand the emotional side of a people's character. In considering Russian culture, a study of politics, economics, and geography is insufficient for even beginning to understand the subtleties of the national character. Despite 60 years of Soviet regime, traditional Russian values persist and are…

Theories of family structure have proposed that in healthy families, the parents' marital alliance is primary (MAP), while in dysfunctional families the primary alliance is not marital (MANP) but crosses generational boundaries. Some family alliances involve triangulation, drawing a third person into a dyadic relationship to mediate tension.…

To defend against the instability and dishonesty of his family life, the child of an alcoholic parent may adopt the role of the hero--a highly conforming, highly achieving "good child" who seeks to redeem his family and himself through his accomplishments. Children of alcoholics adhere to their childhood roles as adults and may even…

Recent legal decisions affecting the rights of children are reviewed and analyzed in terms of efforts to balance the often competing interests of children, their families, and the state. It is concluded that the political process, not the judicial process, will have to be engaged to provide what children need. (Author/AM)

The common law and statutory structures that affect childhood come in three styles: rules, minimums, and sovereignties. The most significant is sovereignties, which recognize in someone or some institution a residual authority and discretion to protect, control, and prepare the child. (Author/IRT)

Suggests differences between the social contexts of English informal and American open education. (DS)

The author objects to the way his views of children's rights are characterized in John McMurtry's paper (in this issue). Magsino argues that children have many moral rights which cannot be enforced by law, and that, lacking a practical substitute, parents are best equipped to promote their children's long-term interests. (PP)

Provides a rationale for the participation of children in development for school health. Addresses why participation should be promoted and how children can participate. Explores ways to assess children's participation by presenting case studies from Nepal, Zambia, and Botswana. Offers strategies for developing children's participation and for…

Reflects on idea of representing children politically and socially or culturally, drawing on themes emerging from the United Kingdom's ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) Children 5-16 Programme, a research initiative focusing on children as social actors. Explores children as research subjects, documentation of "children's…

Discusses literature on children's community participation and analyzes case studies on children's involvement in neighborhood improvement in Finland, Switzerland, and France. Case-study findings indicate that the creation of child-friendly environments with young people requires a shift toward more ecological and socially supportive settings with…

The death of a parent can cause economic and emotional stress for the surviving family members. As part of a larger survey of widowed men and women, living in Melbourne, Australia, data on needs of children who had experienced a parent's death were collected from 126 widowed parents with at least one child under the age of 18. Parents reported…

Children of alcoholic parents often defend against family instability by adopting roles (hero, scapegoat, lost child, mascot) which bring a semblance of stability to the family. While one role may seem to dominate the character of an individual child, all four roles may be seen in the same child; at times conditions may cause an exchange of roles.…