Thirty-seven Australian families with a child with Down's syndrome and 20 comparison families recorded the expenses involved in rearing their children. Results showed that families with a Down's syndrome child incurred additional expenses and participated less in activities such as dance, music, gymnastics, and sports. (Author/JDD)

Describes an Indiana elementary school's first family day, in which over 200 parents participated in a full day of activities (discussions, films, singing, dancing) with their children. This rewarding experiment will pave the way for future attempts to celebrate the family and strengthen school pride. (MLH)

Explores elements of family conversation, searching for sources of friction between elderly parents and their children and strategies to reduce it. Investigates the following areas for sources of irritation and friction-minimizing strategies: information exchange, privacy and right to know, etiquette of avoidance, expressiveness, empty discourse,…

Although parents and families are a valuable resource in substance abuse prevention programs, to date most programs have been community or school based. This article reviews the growing number of family-oriented programs and discusses outcome effectiveness when available. (Author/LHW)

An educational program was implemented to improve family member support for medical compliance among hypertensive patients. Family members were interviewed, counseled, and provided with a booklet for the purpose of educating and involving them in the home management of high blood pressure. Results of this program are presented and analyzed.…

A community-based day treatment program for adjudicated youth is described. Participants report improved school attendance and fewer incidences of running away, acting out, talking back, and other problems. (BL)

Research with preadolescent hearing-impaired children has found that the quality of specific family behaviors and interactions is associated with increased achievement in reading and mathematics. Recommendations are made for parents and practitioners regarding home/school interaction, attitude clarification, and use of the teacher as model.…

Reviewed popular literature (self-help books, magazines, adolescent fiction) that identified stepfamily strengths. Potential strengths of stepfamily life were identified in all three sources. The primary focus of self-help literature and magazine articles, however, was on stepfamily problems. Concludes that adolescent fiction may be used to good…

Current residential placement of 761 mentally retarded children in institutions during the late 1970s was described, and differences between children in institutions, in community settings, or with natural families were analyzed. Results indicated that the majority remained in institutions, and of those released, very few were placed in their…

Studied Illinois farm households (N=13), some already incorporated from five to ten years, regarding ethnic values and intergenerational land transfers. Concluded that farm families need to question whether the tax savings involved with incorporation are worth the potential complications such as estate settlement, marital satisfaction, migration,…

This article cites middle schools nationwide that are using various methods to partner with parents, ensuring that not only is entering middle school a smoother transition but that giving parents a better understanding of the changing curriculum is a top priority. Over 200 middle level schools are addressing No Child Left Behind requirements to…

This curriculum, designed for young children ages 3-6, focuses on math, science, and social studies and includes integrated activities to use with over 30 software titles. Young Children as Explorers: Interactive Learning Experiences addresses learning standards established by the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics, National Research…

Noting the disconnect between what is known about the crucial role that transition plays in ensuring educational continuity and what is currently available in schools, the Harvard Family Research Project conducted a review of current research on the transition to kindergarten, focusing on promising transition practices and the role that schools…

Passport in Time (PIT), a volunteer program of the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, is an excellent recreational learning experience. Families work side-by-side with professional archaeologists and historians to excavate, record, and restore historic and prehistoric sites across the United States. In addition, families…

This book examines the role child abuse plays within a victim's individual development from childhood through their adult life. It begins by describing the different types of child abuse, prevalence rates, and risk factors. It also describes four types of child maltreatment that include: physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse.…