Bibliographies
The following bibliography has been compiled from the Australian Family & Society Abstracts database and other resources held in the Institute's library. Where available a link to the document on the Web is provided. Most items can be borrowed from the Institute's library via the interlibrary loan system. Online publications in PDF format require Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Community influences
Does it take a village? Neighbourhood influences on young children’ development. (2007)
Dr Ben Edwards' presentation in which he presented findings from his research into neighbourhood influences on Australian children’s development.
Early
childhood development and education.
Edgar, D
Melbourne, Vic: Australian Fabian Society, 2002, AFS
Autumn Lectures 2002: Fixing the Foundations: Early
Childhood Development and Education, Online only
In this paper presented at the Australian Fabian Society's
Autumn Lectures 2002, the author argues for wider community
involvement in and responsibility for child rearing
and child development. He first makes the point that
early intervention is best considered as action taken
as soon as possible after the initial manifestation
of a problem, rather than action that must occur in
early childhood. After discussing the types of family
relations and child care arrangements likely to have
a positive effect on child development, he then emphasises
the role of educators and the community in supporting
parental child rearing. He regards child development
as part of society's responsibility to the individual
and as a way of ensuring that in return children will
grow to make positive contributions to their communities.
Families and neighbourhoods (PDF 288 KB). (2007)
Claire James and Sally Gimson, Family and Parenting Institute
The report outlines the findings of a UK survey of 2,105 parents about their neighbourhoods. While parents reported generally positive views about their neighbours and the neighbourhoods in which they lived, the effects of socioeconomic inequality were clear. The authors make several policy recommendations to address issues such as the need to focus on communities as well as individuals and families, engaging young people, the need for safe and affordable facilities and services, and the differing needs of urban and rural families and communities.
Families as a context for children.
Bowes, Jennifer; Watson, Johanna
In: Bowes, J.M. ed. Children, families and communities:
contexts and consequences. South Melbourne, Vic:
Oxford University Press, 2nd ed., 2004, p91-115
Families have a major impact on most children's
lives, influencing their developing patterns of
thinking, feeling and behaviour in a number of direct
and indirect ways. This chapter considers the influence
of families in their community contexts on the development
of children. It explores what families are like,
how families operate, and how families are connected
to communities. It discusses the influence of parenting
on children and families as contexts for children.
Focus on families: Reinforcing the importance of
family (PDF 739 KB).
Stevens, Katie; Dickson, Marny; Poland, Michelle;
Prasad, Rajen
Wellington, NZ: Families Commission, 2005, 78p,
figures (Research report no.4/05), and Online
What are the factors that contribute to successful
outcomes for families with dependent children? This
report summarises the literature on this topic and
presents results of a large scale focus group study,
carried out in New Zealand, which explored the characteristics
of family well being as defined by families themselves.
It considers conceptual issues in successful family
outcomes and discusses the following findings: living
as a family; relationships between family members;
family related skills and capabilities; the organisation
of family time; success for children; friendship
networks; neighbours and neighbourhoods; ethnic
communities; religious and spiritually based communities;
uptake of services; employment conditions; work
life balance; public policy and family supports;
parenting advice and programs; primary, secondary
and tertiary education; health services; housing
affordability; transport; income, tax and social
assistance; families in society; societal values
and expectations; cultural and spiritual values
and expectations; and social exclusion.
Neighbourhood influences on children.
Prior, Margot
In: Richardson, S. and Prior, M. eds. No time to
lose: the well-being of Australia's children. Carlton,
Vic: Melbourne University Press, 2005, p201-228
Neighbourhoods and communities that children grow
up in make a difference to learning and psychosocial
outcomes for young people. This chapter discusses
challenges faced when conducting research on neighbourhood
effects, neighbourhood definition, types of disadvantage
and the complexity of indicators and effects. It
then explores neighbourhood influences on child
development, looking at intelligence and educational
outcomes, social and emotional outcomes, parenting,
parental perceptions of neighbourhoods, poverty
and parenting, facilities and role models, youth
monitoring strategies, resource seeking strategies,
in home learning strategies and educational contexts.
The chapter reports on observations from planned
community or neighbourhood based interventions in
the USA and some Australian data on neighbourhood
interventions.
Stopping to smell the flowers: Putting
the community back into childcare.
Donahoo, Daniel
Rattler no.74 Winter 2005: 20-22
Many children are now cared for by community based
child care centres. This article asks how relevant
the community aspect of the title is. It considers
what community involvement really means, suggesting
that it includes taking the children out into their
community to experience and observe different ways
that people live.