The present practice of surnaming, by which the wife takes on the name of her husband and the children take on the name of the father, favors one of the sexes over the other. In this paper, the egalitarian surnaming system (ESS) is proposed. This system deals equally with the sexes and also serves important social functions, such as providing a…

Examined role of grandparents in infancy in comparative analysis of grandparent-infant grandchild and parent-infant interaction patterns. Results revealed that both grandmothers and grandfathers were active interactive and support agents, with pattern of similarities and differences in interactive style across generation and gender. (Author/NB)

Research on aging has contributed toward undermining negative stereotypes. In the last 20 years, the sociology of age has developed as a field that deals not only with growing old, but also with growing older from birth onward. The new role of grandparents is described. (MLW)

Reports questionnaire data from Black teenagers and grandmothers from 101 low-income urban families. Results indicated that grandmothers were more knowledgeable about infant development than were daughters. The presence of a baby seemed to provide the context in which the grandmother helped the young mother acquire information about infant…

Uses examples from the history of the Sioux Indians to illustrate how older adults can aid the educational process. (FL)

This research used data from the 1998 National Educational Longitudinal Study to investigate the development of outcomes for adolescents living with single mothers in multigenerational families compared with adolescents living in married families (as well as a disaggregated set of other family structures). The study measured family structure when…

Significant progress has been made through Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in recent years to get health insurance to families who cannot afford it. However, children being raised by their grandparents or other relative caregivers are often harder than other groups to reach through standard outreach activities. To find…

This paper discusses the findings from several interviews conducted with grandparents to ascertain the process of grief they experienced with the death of their grandchild. Typically, a grandparent's grief focuses on the dual loss aspect. In addition to the loss of a younger family member, grandparents must console their own child, the bereaved…

Focuses on another aspect of intergenerational ties--extended family relations between adolescents and their grandparents. The nature of this relationship is explored, and factors affecting the quality of the relationship are discussed. The ways in which grandparents may influence the development of their adolescent grandchildren are described.…

Investigates the characteristics and quality of the image children have of aged persons and their grandparents. Children's drawings were compared for old age characteristics and deficits. Analysis of variance on sex, age, kinship with the stimulus person and sex of stimulus person was conducted. (Author/RH)

Presents the results of a study in which British grandmothers (n=16) were audiotaped reading aloud and conversing with their grandchildren and an adult interviewer. Finds that grandmothers show a raised pitch while interacting with their grandchildren when reading and conversing with them. Includes references. (CMK)

Young adult college students described their relationship with either their stepgrandparent or grandparent. Grandchildren reported having and desiring more contact; rated that relationship as more important; and reported more involvement in social and personal roles, expected behaviors, and high relationship strength than did stepgrandchildren.…

This article describes an ongoing support program in a Head Start program for grandparents who are serving as the primary caretakers of their grandchildren. Information is provided on the program's purpose and goals, the grandparents who attend, how meetings are run, experiences and incidental learning, and the progression of the group. (DB)

Compared mothers' ratings of childhood problems of 4- to 9-year-old Sudanese children. Compared to children in extended families, children in nuclear families had more conduct, emotional, and sleep problems; exhibited poorer self-care and greater overdependence; and were less likely to be breastfed and have grandmothers involved in their care. (BC)

Children's scores on the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test were influenced by mothers' schooling, grandparents' schooling, and family size. Increases in mothers' working hours negatively affected children's achievement. Welfare dependence reduced test scores, largely due to transmission of an underclass heritage of low achievement. (Author/SK)