This report contains a series of articles from Japan, New Zealand, and the U.S. dealing with child development. The articles concern: (1) a social dynamic theory of early human development and a program of research based on this theory; (2) the need for intervention and the structure of intervention for children with disabilities on the island of…

In the 1980s West Virginia lost 70,000 mining and manufacturing jobs and nearly 4% of its population. Yet, despite the economic decline and a poverty rate of 23%, most West Virginians choose to stay. This series of newspaper articles focuses on why they stay. The story of one laid-off coal miner and his family illustrates the plight of many. Since…

To examine clinical implications for using maternal language as a dimension of assessment and intervention, a linguistic and behavioral analysis was completed on a mother suspected of neglect during interaction with her 5-month-old failure-to-thrive infant. Results of the videotaped sample were compared to previous research on maternal language…

Presented are the keynote address and sectional presentations made at a conference on early childhood education. Speakers offered various perspectives on high quality programs for children and families. The keynote address, given by Bettye Caldwell, concerned marketing quality programs for children, exploring internal and external deterrents,…

The findings presented here are part of a longitudinal, prospective study investigating factors associated with infants, parents, interactions, and environments which account for developmental outcomes in a sample of high-risk children. In a group of 96 children observed in preschool at age 4 1/2, 31 compliant and 22 extremely noncompliant…

This essay examines distinctions between the roles of mothers and teachers, and draws implications for mothers, teachers, parent education programs, and research. Differences between the roles of mothers and teachers are discussed in terms of seven dimensions: (1) scope of functions (diffuse and limitless versus specific and limited); (2)…

This paper examines conceptual issues and research evidence related to the effects of day care on infants. Examples of cultural relativism in child development are used as the basis for arguing that there is no fixed list of parental behaviors that can be counted on to meet children's psychological needs. American cultural values and the resultant…

This paper discusses the processes that are at work which produce some of the differences between male and female human beings. The sex of the child is an important attribute of the organism's identity. Before birth, parents express preferences for the sex of the unborn child and start providing names as a function of the sex of the child. Studies…

The Maternal Role Preparation project utilizes an occupational therapy approach to increasing maternal competence in first-time mothers. The four-session program covers topics concerning infants (attachment, sensory systems, developmental abilities) and mothers (the mothering role, physiological changes after childbirth, physical and psychological…

A failure-to-thrive 30-month-old was observed in interaction with his unempathic mother, showing the pathological consequences of his openness to social influences (i.e., the child's attachment to a sadistic mother could later produce masochistic tendencies which could be reenacted to reproduce the feelings associated with mother's affection).…

Three hypotheses were investigated among 121 maltreating and adequate mother/child dyads: that (1) there would be qualitative differences in the supportiveness of mothers' networks; (2) differences would be related to differences in child attachment to mother; and (3) differences in mothers' approaches to relationships might have influenced their…

Discusses research which shows the development of compliance in infants and young children. Describes the relationships between compliance and attachment to parents, childrearing style, timing and setting of control techniques, and development of self-control and problem-solving abilities. Discusses the importance of mother-child relationships for…

Twenty 18-month-olds were observed interacting with their mothers and fathers in a structured laboratory setting. Assessed were affiliation and attachment behaviors when the infant was alone with either the mother or father or with both parents and when stranger entered. (Author/MS)

This study examined the relationship between a mother's childrearing history, perceived social support, and maternal empathy and the quality of engagement with her child during play. The study also focused on the roles of social support as a moderating variable and maternal empathy as a mediating variable in the relationship. Participants were 77…

This annual report presents several articles related to the work of the Clinical Center for Child Development at Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Japan. The articles are: (1) "The Functional Uses of Infant-Directed Speech of Fathers and Mothers: A Comparison Study" (Katsuko Niwano); (2) "Are Children 'Among the Gods'?: Parental…