Examines the social, legal and cultural challenges navigating the boundaries of 'normal'-'problematic'-'risky' sexual behaviours among peers.

Dobson and Bauer outline the struggle between value systems in America, the outcome of which will affect the moral welfare of this generation of children. They provide ideas for those who want to counter these negative influences.

During the past decade, a dramatic increase in research and clinical interest has risen in child abuse and neglect. This recent growth in awareness isdue at leastpartly to thealarmingstatisticsdocumentingthe incidence of child maltreatment. Almost one million children are re ported to be abused and neglected each year, and many experts believe that this figure underestimates the true incidence. Indeed, recentsurveys suggest that almost 1. 5 million children are the targets of domestic vio lence every year. A significantproportion of these children die as a func tion of this maltreatment, whereas theremaindersuffera variety ofshort and long-term deleterious medicaland psychosocial consequences. Child maltreatment is a universal problem that has precipitated a mobilization of effort from a variety of disciplines, including psychology, medicine, psychiatry, social work, sociology, and criminology. Particular attention has been directed toward the prevention and treatment of childabuse and neglect. Such endeavors require the screen ing of large groups in order to identify families that are at high-risk for engaging in such behavior. Delineating those characteristics that differ entiate high- from low-risk families and children is one of the obvious priorities for researchers and clinicians in the future. This book, there fore, carefully considers the status of research on risk factors of abuse and neglect in children. Adduced data undoubtedly will have practical value for subsequent intervention efforts.

Shows that "risk" is a valuable and pedagogical experience for children on the playground (and for the adults that share that experience with them) in preparation for the precarious world which children find beyond the playground.

This volume contains contributions that are interdisciplinary and inter national. The editors believe this is an especially timely and promising enterprise, for both sources of diversity are needed for improving our abilities to identify the young child at risk and to prevent disability. In terms of diSciplines, the volume brings together papers by health care providers (such as pediatricians and public health nurses) as well as educators and psychologists. Each of these groups works in dissimilar settings and faces dissimilar problems: Health care providers seek sim ple identification procedures for use in busy primary care settings; psy chologists emphasize well-constructed research designs; and educators reflect the need for early identification and education. Each of these spe cialist groups has something to offer the other, but too often each tends to limit its publications and readings to its own discipline, thus failing to capitalize on a wider scope. of knowledge and practice. We hope that this selection of papers will allow all readers addressing the early iden tification of children at risk to generate a more integrated interdiscipli nary perspective. We also hope this volume reflects the sense of excitement that we feel from a sharing of international perspectives. There is no single ap proach to the early identification of children at risk that is universally applicable to all countries. In addition, approaches within each country vary because of availability of financial and human resources and dif fering expectations of local communities.

As internet use is extending to younger children, there is an increasing need for research focus on the risks young users are experiencing, as well as the opportunities, and how they should cope. With expert contributions from diverse disciplines and a uniquely cross-national breadth, this timely book examines the prospect of enhanced opportunities for learning, creativity and communication set against the fear of cyberbullying, pornography and invaded privacy by both strangers and peers. Based on an impressive in-depth survey of 25,000 children carried out by the EU Kids Online network, it offers wholly new findings that extend previous research and counter both the optimistic and the pessimistic hype. It argues that, in the main, children are gaining the digital skills, coping strategies and social support they need to navigate this fast-changing terrain. But it also identifies the struggles they encounter, pinpointing those for whom harm can follow from risky online encounters. Each chapter presents new findings and analyses to inform both researchers and students in the social sciences and policy makers in government, industry or child welfare who are working to enhance children's digital experiences.

The clearest, most comprehensive text available on the neurological and psycho-social development of children from birth to 8, this cutting-edge book will be the cornerstone of every early interventionist's education. Essential for preservice professionals across multiple disciplines--and for inservice practitioners in search of a reference they can trust-- this textbook helps readers fully understand child development, address the complex needs of children with disabilities and their families, and skillfully connect the latest clinical knowledge with everyday practice. Illustrated with dozens of engaging and instructive photos, this text helps future professionals in education, medicine, and related clinical fields meet state requirements for training in early childhood special education with complete coverage of the birth-8 period understand the full range of issues-medical, psychosocial, cultural, developmental, and educational-affecting child development ensure strong partnerships with professionals and families by learning about other disciplines and understanding the challenges parents face address social-emotional factors at every stage of a child's early development discover how clinical issues affect children in educational settings after the critical transition to school develop sensitivity to diverse family needs through eye-opening vignettes and child-family studies With this accessible core textbook and professional reference, early interventionists will be ready to work effectively with children who have or are at risk for developmental delays--and pool their knowledge and resources with professionals across disciplines to ensure the best outcomes for children and families.