| Abstract: | Data from a large representative sample of American kindergarten children were used to examine the role of risk and protective factors involved in vulnerability and resilience as they relate to the development of school-based competence. Better fine motor, gross motor, and interpersonal skills and internalizing behaviors were associated with good outcomes across competence domains, even among children from at-risk backgrounds. Resilient children (higher risk, higher competence) had much in common with their competent peers with no risk factors, including average or better fine and gross motor skills, parental educational expectations, home literacy environment, and social skills and behavior. Results suggest that center-based child care and literacy-rich home environments are tied to competence as well as resilience among at-risk children. |
