The role of parents in education has become increasingly important today. This book puts parent-child relations in a historical and cultural context to help undergraduate students understand that there are important similarities and differences in parent-child relationships across cultures. This approach allows students to see how culture and family variations, as well as age and gender, are related to parent-child interactions at each stage of life. The text also features in-depth coverage of parenting strategies. These are covered early in the book to set the stage for the later chapters that focus on parenting at different stages of development. These strategies provide guidance for parents as well as for professionals working with children and their parents or other caregivers. Each chapter now includes learning objectives, critical thinking questions, and a list of useful websites. A new glossary of key terms has also been added. This new edition has an increased emphasis on the various contexts of parenting as well as more examples and personal quotations from parents and children in various family circumstances.This text prepares students to integrate theory, research, and technique while working with parents and children in various family contexts.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Historical and Theoretical Influences of Childrearing Objectives Autocratic Parenting: A Tradition of Harsh, Strict Childrearing The Questioning of Autocratic Parenting Theories That Emphasized Parental Understanding of Children Respecting and Attending to Children's Enthusiasm for Learning The Role of Context in Child Socialization The Importance of the Parental Role Summary Key Terms Useful Web Sites Chapter 2 Parenting Patterns and the Impact of Culture and Context Objectives Child Socialization Patterns of American Parents Cultural Variations in Parenting Patterns The Influence of Families of Origin in Childrearing Patterns The Influence of Socioeconomic Status on Parenting Patterns The Influence of Religiosity on Parenting Patterns Summary Key Terms Useful Web Sites Chapter 3 Parents and Children in Varied Family Structures Objectives Families in Which Children Have Been Adopted Divorced Parents and Their Children The Postdivorce Adjustment of Children Parents and Children in Stepfamilies Adolescent Single Parents Unmarried Parents Who Are Not Divorced, Widowed, or Adolescents Gay and Lesbian Parents and Their Children Surrogate Parents Summary Key Terms Useful Web Sites Chapter 4 Child Socialization Strategies and Techniques Objectives Guidance as Prevention of Problems Effective Parent-Child Communication as a Parenting Strategy Guidance as Reinforcement and Modeling Guidance as Limits, Consequences, and Conflict Resolution Resolving Parent-Child Conflict Summary Key Terms Useful Web Sites Chapter 5 Becoming Parents and Parenting Infants and Toddlers Objectives Optimizing the Chances of Having Healthy Babies Birth and Newborns The Transition to Parenthood: A Major Developmental Milestone The Role of Parents in Infant/Toddler Physical, Social-Emotional, and Cognitive Development Parent-Infant Play Parental Influences on Toddler's Autonomy and Exploratory Behavior The Promotion of Infant-Toddler Physical Development Promoting the Cognitive Development of Infants and Toddlers Parents' Understanding of Infant Perception Parent-Infant/Toddler Verbal Interactions The Care of Infants and Toddlers When Parents Work Summary Key Terms Useful Web Sites Chapter 6 Parent-Preschooler Interactions Objectives The Parental Role in Promoting Preschoolers' Social-Emotional Development Promoting Preschooler's Physical Development The Development of Personal and Family Life Skills Promoting Young Children's Cognitive Development Challenges and Concerns of Parents of Young Children Summary Key Terms Useful Web Sites Chapter 7 Parents and Their School-Age Children Objectives Promoting School-Age Children's Social-Emotional Development Promoting the Physical Development of School-Age Children Promoting School-Age Children's Cognitive Development Summary Key Terms Useful Web Sites Chapter 8 Parent-Adolescent Interactions Parental Styles and Adolescent Development Quality Time and Parent-Adolescent Engagement Developmental Changes and the Parent-Adolescent Relationship Parent-Adolescent Conflict Changes in the Family System When Children Reach Adolescence Problems That Adolescents Sometimes Face Summary Key Terms Useful Web Sites Chapter 9 The Relationships of Young Adults, Their Parents, and Their Children Objectives The Enduring Bond Between Young Adults and Their Parents Variations in the Living Arrangements of Young Adults and Their Parents Parenthood and the Social-Emotional Development of Young Adults The Influence of Parent-Child Relationships on Young Adults' Cognitive Development The influence of Parents on Their Children's Assumption of Adult Social Roles Young Adulthood and Parent-Child Relationships: A Family Systems Perspective Combining Work and Parental Roles Summary Key Terms Useful Web Sites Chapter 10 Middle Age and Older Parenthood and Grandparenthood Objectives Parenthood and the Social-Emotional Development of Middle-Aged Adults The Relationships of Older Parents and Their Middle-Aged Children Parent-Child Relationships and Social-Emotional Development of Older Persons Grandparenthood, Personhood, and the Life Course Older Adult Caregivers of Grandchildren and/or Elderly Parents The Importance and Quality of Intergenerational Relationships The Death of an Older Parent Summary Key Terms Useful Web Sites Chapter 11 Parenting Children with Special Needs Objectives Parenting Children Who Have Exceptionalities The Role of Parents Whose Children Have Exceptionalities Parenting Challenges Related to Specific Child Exceptionalities Parenting Children with Chronic Illnesses Summary Key Terms Useful Web Sites Chapter 12 Families at Risk and Families Coping with the Death of a Family Member Objectives Child Maltreatment The Impact of Maltreatment on Children's Lives Children's Exposure to Interparental Violence The Impact of Parental Alcoholism on Children Families in Recovery Coping with the Untimely Death of a Family Member Summary Key Terms Useful Web Sites Appendix - Four Nationally Recognized Parenting Program Glossary References Author Index Subject Index