Assessing the Family Environment of Young Children

Abstract

In the lead article of the first issue of the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Brown (1980) vouched that “Developmental pediatrics is deeply concerned with practical methods of early identification, intervention and prediction of developmental problems, learning disabilities and adjustment modes” (p. 4). His clarion call to pediatricians to intensify their efforts with regard to expanding and using the existing knowledge of child development not only reflects the general direction in which child health care is going but also resonates with current social service and educational priorities for children.