Acknowledgments
First of all, I want to thank my parents: thank you for supporting my study in the US. You are always my most powerful support.
Special acknowledgement and thank you to my thesis committee advisor, Professor Stan Rickel, without whose encouragement, I would not have been confident enough to deal with the challenge. And thank you for pointing out a correct direction every time I felt lost.
To Amos Scully, thank you for exploring the problems and solutions regarding children, being patient with my endless questions, encouraging me to think about the problem from different perspectives. Your time is greatly appreciated.
Sandra Turner, thank you for meeting with me and giving me your valuable opinion; your suggestions about my defense and exhibition were also valuable to me. And thank you for helping me find a friendly family to take pictures for the final model.
Alan Reddig, thank you for always helping me figure out on the last class in the last quarter.
Last but not least, thank you to Bridget Carey, Andy Carey, Martin Carey, Jane Carey and Tessa Carey, for your natural performance in front of the camera, and the photos of your beautiful house that make my design much more convincing.