Observed mothers with their infants at 6, 12, and 24 months of age to determine mothers' warm responsiveness and restrictiveness and their relationship to developing independence of children. Found that optimal outcomes were related to older mothers with higher socioeconomic status, and more child-centered childrearing attitudes. (LBT)

Notes children with movement difficulties do not receive neat diagnostic classification, as they have normal intelligence and minimal neurological signs. Details a study based on interviews of 11 parents of children with movement difficulties that revealed that parent involvement and knowledge is critical to acquiring professional attention.…

Examined typically developing children's different ideas about the roles of the teachers, interventionists, and therapists in inclusive early childhood programs. Found that children not requiring therapists and interventionists did not know the names of specialists assisting their disabled peers. Children viewed teachers' roles as teaching…

Examined the relationship between primary teachers' implementation of developmentally appropriate and traditional teaching methods and the mathematics achievement of general and special education students. Found that mathematics achievement was associated with a reported measure of instruction that emphasized mathematical processing and strategy…

Introduces this special issue on mental health and Head Start. Presents a rationale for exploring mental health issues in Head Start children. Notes that the Head Start program presents a unique opportunity to expand the knowledge base regarding the prevalence of mental health problems and the factors contributing to emotional functioning among…

Explores why mental health has been a contested issue in Head Start and describes recent efforts to bring mental health closer to the center of the program agenda. Describes areas of challenge and innovation that might further the program goal of improving the well-being of parents and children in poverty. Concludes with recommendations for…

Examines the prevalence, developmental course, and predictive power of child mental health problems for young children in general and low-income, diverse populations in particular. Notes discrepancies between Head Start agency-level data, national estimates, and intensive studies of similar populations. Describes new collaborative federal…

Used focus groups with 23 Head Start staff from 5 urban programs to identify naturally occurring strategies to cope with children's inappropriate behavior. Found that horizontally managed centers used a more collaborative approach, whereas vertically managed centers required that teachers consult with a gatekeeper before consulting with others.…

Examined relation between fathers' and children's communicative skills and child behavior problems early and late in the Head Start school year. Found that the structural models for externalizing and internalizing behavior confirmed the hypothesis that father communication was linked to child communication skills and child communication was linked…

Comparing social competence and mental health of homeless and permanently housed Head Start preschoolers, parents and teachers identified more behavioral problems in homeless than housed children. After 6 months, mothers reported declines in homeless children's compliance. Teachers noted declines in their compliance and expressive skills. Homeless…

Explored externalizing behavior problems in suburban Head Start children. Found parents identified almost one-quarter of children as having externalizing problems in the borderline/clinical range, with twice as many girls as boys having borderline/clinical levels of behavior problems. Found children with parent-identified externalizing problems…

Reviews the correlates of parents' child care arrangements. Considers parents' values and child-rearing beliefs, knowledge of child care quality, and satisfaction with child care choice, as well as family factors. Offers recommendations for honoring parents' child care ideas through better child care quality information and higher professional…

Examined the reasoning and experiences of African American, Anglo, and Latina mothers in selecting child care while meeting welfare-to-work requirements. Critiqued three theoretical positions in light of a structured developmental psychology perspective. Found that mothers' preeminent criterion is that they trust the provider. Concluded that…

Interviewed Japanese preschool staff about mothers' child-rearing strategies and the home-school relationship. Found that most respondents believed mothers should prioritize spending time with their children and should provide firm behavior guidance, but did not view cognitive stimulation as important to the maternal role. Few believed mothers…

Describes how parent involvement and parents themselves were socially constructed within Head Start programs located in different communities. Suggests how these social practices made particular forms of involvement possible and even necessary. Argues that discourses constitute rather than merely represent. Suggests how alternative ways of…