‘The helping,the fixtures,the kits,the gear,the gum shields,the food,the snacks,the waiting,the rain,the car rides … ’: social class,parenting and children's organised activities

ABSTRACT

Class-related parenting cultures and ideologies have been of considerable interest to academics over the last two decades. Much of the research thus far has focused on exploring Annette Lareau's conceptualisations of ‘natural growth’ and ‘concerted cultivation’ and the implications for outcomes in relation to education. The focus of the present article is organised activities, which are a central but as yet relatively under-researched feature of middle-class parenting. The findings are based upon 73 semi-structured interviews with parents and children from 48 middle-class families living in and around a small city in northern England. The article reveals that initiating and facilitating children's organised activities is considered a central aspect of ‘good’ parenting in middle-class social networks. It is shown how this is a consequence of several developments within society over the past three decades or so, including the rising levels of maternal employment, the growing competitiveness of the labour market and the increasing concerns related to children's health and safety. It is argued that these developments have heightened middle-class parents’ predisposition to not only be involved with and invest in their children's leisure biographies, but to do so in a more deliberate, rigorous and rational manner.     

Language and reading impairments are associated with increased prevalence of non-right-handedness

Handedness has been studied for association with language-related disorders because of its link with language hemispheric dominance. No clear pattern has emerged, possibly because of small samples, publication bias, and heterogeneous criteria across studies. Non-right-handedness (NRH) frequency was assessed in N = 2503 cases with reading and/or language impairment and N = 4316 sex-matched controls identified from 10 distinct cohorts (age range 6–19 years old; European ethnicity) using a priori set criteria. A meta-analysis (N_cases = 1994) showed elevated NRH % in individuals with language/reading impairment compared with controls (OR = 1.21, CI = 1.06–1.39, p = .01). The association between reading/language impairments and NRH could result from shared pathways underlying brain lateralization, handedness, and cognitive functions.     

Screening for risk of low energy availability in athletic and recreationally active females in Ireland

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Low energy availability (LEA) results in physiological adaptations, which can contribute to unfavourable health outcomes. Little information exists on risk of LEA in active individuals competing in different sports or levels of competition. The aims of this study were to (1) identify risk of LEA in females competing at different levels of competition and (2) investigate associations between risk of LEA, illness and dietary habits. Methods: The validated questionnaire, ‘Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire’ was distributed online (November 2016–February 2017) to assess risk of LEA. Twenty-nine additional questions collected information on demographics, illness history and dietary habits. Participants were considered at risk of LEA if they attained a score of?≥?8 and were grouped into: (i) international; (ii) provincial/inter-county; (iii) competitive; and (iv) recreationally active. Chi-square and logistic regression analyses were used to explore differences between those at risk or not at risk of LEA. Results: Risk of LEA was identified in 40% (n?=?331) of 833 participants and was 1.7 and 1.8 times more likely in international and provincial/inter-county athletes compared to those who were recreationally active (International: odds ratios (OR) 1.68, 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) 1.12–2.54; Provincial/inter-county: OR 1.83, 95%CI 1.20–2.77). In participants at risk of LEA, missing >22 days of training during the previous year due to illness occurred 3 times more frequently (OR 3.01, 95%CI 1.81–5.02). Conclusion: Risk of LEA was widespread in this heterogeneous sample. Awareness of LEA and the development of appropriate energy management strategies to ensure athlete health across levels of competition are required.     

Parent and teacher perceptions of students＇ general scholastic abilities： Effects on involvement and communication

Parents＇ and teachers＇ perceptions of students＇ general scholastic abilities, such as being able to complete their school work, retain what they learn, and achieve sufficiently compared to other students at their ages, were analyzed for how well they predict parents＇ forms of involvement in their children＇s education and teachers＇ forms of communication to parents. Data were collected from parents and teachers in two Title I, public middle schools in a large, urban city in the southwest. Parent involvement and teacher communication practices were measured using the ＂school and family partnerships survey＂. Parents＇ and teachers＇ perceptions of students＇ general scholastic abilities were measured using a teacher-rating version of the ＂perceived competence scale for children＂. Linear regression analyses revealed that parents＇ perceptions did not predict their involvement, nor did teachers＇ perceptions predict their amount of communication as reported by parents. Although parents＇ and teachers＇ perceptions did not predict involvement in this study, perceptions of children＇s general academic abilities should be further explored in relation to family-school partnerships. The results suggest that involvement in middle school occurs in ways distinctive from elementary school. Therefore, improved instruments are needed to more accurately measure parent involvement and teacher communication at grade levels beyond elementary school.     

Cookie-exchange group shares more than just treats

In an effort to provide a vision of birth to readers, each issue of The Journal of Perinatal Education begins with a birthing story. Often, these stories describe the experience of one woman or one family. In this installment of "Celebrate Birth!" however, the author focuses on an example of how groups of women keep collective birthing stories alive across years and generations.     

Responsibility for career transition preparation

Summary The continuing need and desire for assistance in planning for, entering, and progressing in a career is well-documented over the past decade. Although assistance with finding and securing a job is a part of this need, it is but one aspect of the competencies needed by students to be aware of the world of work and how this world differs from the educational world they are leaving. The ability of students to adjust and contribute to many roles in their post-high school world is crucial for a successful and lasting transition.The competencies needed by students as they prepare for and implement their transition to the occupational world can serve as the focal point of the career guidance program in the high school. Such competencies must go beyond the acquisition of occupational information and job search and interview skills. Competencies expected of students must be those that will allow them to adjust, mature, and succeed in the world of work and allow them to satisfy the multiple roles they will have throughout their careers.School counselors must become an integral part of the program to assist students to acquire and use competencies that will ensure their successful adjustment and development in the occupational world. Career guidance programs must be expanded and maintained to meet the continuing needs of students and counselors must revive or renew the competencies and the skills necessary to serve students during their transition to the world of work.Edwin A. Whitfield is Associate Director, Division of Educational Services, Ohio Department of Education, Columbus, Ohio