Today childhood takes place within a multimedia context where education, marketing and entertainment operate together in one big melting pot. Childhood is commodified, a situation not everybody seems happy with. Due to increasing exposure with violence and sexual activities, for example in children's games, children seem to lose the chance to be…

Presents an annotated and categorized bibliography to foster an explicit concern with the geography of children. Includes articles on (de)constructing children, children in the environment, designing environments for children, environmental hazards, indirect experience of place, social issues, citizenship and agency, and children's geographical…

Traces the history of Americans' views of childhood and child rearing, demonstrating how they have been dominated by an emphasis on children's prospective value as future economic producers. A new vision is required which, without depreciating the importance of work, would place equal emphasis on qualities such as love, care, and imagination. (EH)

The knowledge system of the young child is considered script-based, where script is used (in the Schank and Abelson 1977 sense) as a frame defining an expected sequence of actions in a given context involving props, scenes, and actors. This study was concerned with how scripts may be influenced by the structure of different events and the child's…

This study investigates how willing adolescents were to disclose their problems and tensions to: (1) their mothers; (2) their fathers, and (3) their peers. Results indicate they are significantly more likely to inform their mothers of troubles than their fathers. (Author)

Notes the effect child protagonists can have on adult viewers of a play because adult audiences can be reminded of the helplessness of childhood. (JC)

Discusses the goals and agenda of the first National Youth Congress of the Associated Schools in Colombia. Summarizes proposals and conclusions, and stresses the importance of recognizing the rights of young people as members and future leaders of society. (GEA)

Presents a case where psychiatry and family therapy were used concurrently to treat a family disorder. The use of two modalities allowed the therapists to see the distress their prescriptions inflicted on the child. Concluded that family therapists should consider how their interventions affect young, vulnerable family members. (BH)

This booklet uses puzzles, games, and informational pages to explain to children who will be acting as witnesses in court what they will be experiencing and to make them feel as comfortable as possible about the situation. Throughout the booklet a character referred to as B.J., a young boy, is utilized to guide children through the information and…

Summer outings can be fun if parents let children make the plans. Children can plan outings and learn valuable skills if parents let them gather the information, map and direct the route, plan a picnic, make an agenda, list necessary items, pack the car, plan activities, and learn by doing. (SM)

Considers homework as an issue in the effort to define children's role as active participants in their lives. Notes the tension created as children attempt to find a place for themselves in their families and schools, the debates about children's rights, and the prescriptive approach of public policy toward homework. (JPB)

A child patient may play one of several fixed roles in the family. As scapegoat, his shortcomings are emphasized; as baby, his dependence, weakness, and immaturity are rewarded; as pet, love and praise, some undeserved, are won; and, as peacemaker, he must promote peace at the cost of suppressing his own feelings. (ST)

Research and theory appear to indicate that adolescents may be as capable as adults of rendering competent decisions regarding their own medical treatment. Professionals who provide treatment for minors should attempt to determine how each child can participate in decision making affecting his or her own welfare. (Author/MJL)

This study of 16 pairs of older nonhandicapped siblings and same-sex younger mentally retarded siblings found that the amount of sibling interaction was related to the contexts of toy play, snacking, or television-viewing. Compared to nonhandicapped sibling pairs, older siblings of mentally retarded children more frequently assumed teacher,…

Results of a study of the types of help provided by 27 adult children to chronically ill parents demonstrated that despite profound stress and strain, they still provided a range of help within the formal structures of the hospital. Dependence was a weak indicator and stress was a stronger indicator of the adult child's helping behavior. (JOW)