English

ERIC ED538867: The Cultural Strengths of Latino Families: Firm Scaffolds for Children and Youth. New Journalism on Latino Children

Daily news reports portray Latinos--especially immigrant families--as suffering from a variety of problems. Latino men increasingly fill the prisons. Teenagers dropping from high schools. Young children entering kindergarten already behind. But newborns of Latino immigrants are remarkably healthy, and children display robust levels of social development in their early years, often achieving high grades in school--despite growing-up in poor communities. Most Latino children are raised in two-parent families, often supported by a strong kin network. This is called the "immigrant paradox," now being detailed by researchers, keen on discovering how these cultural assets persist. Recent stories have begun to illuminate the strengths of Latino parents and their children. "Washington Post" writer, Theresa Vargas details how three young men finished their high school diplomas while working construction during the day. The "Los Angeles Times" and "Education Week" have run pieces focusing on unexpectedly strong health indicators and school achievement of many Latino children, drawing from recent research on the immigrant paradox. (Contains 4 figures, 9 endnotes and 1 source.)

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