Research on parenting through the life course has developed around two separate approaches. Evolutionary biology provides fresh perspectives from life history theory using behavioral ecology and parental investment theory. At the same time, the social and behavioral sciences integrates research from long-term studies of individual development and from the collection of life histories.This path-breaking book advances evolutionary, life history research by integrating perspectives of these two approaches into a biosocial science of the life course. It examines parenthood as a commitment extending throughout life and focuses on the impact on parental and child behavior of changes in the timing, distribution, and intensity of parental investment. This perspective is particularly appropriate for research on parenting since the family is the universal human institution within which the bearing and rearing of children has been based and which transmits traditions, beliefs, and values to the young.

Research on parenting through the life course has developed around two separate approaches. Evolutionary biology provides fresh perspectives from life history theory using behavioral ecology and parental investment theory. At the same time, the social and behavioral sciences integrates research from long-term studies of individual development and from the collection of life histories. This path-breaking book advances evolutionary, life history research by integrating perspectives of these two approaches into a biosocial science of the life course. It examines parenthood as a commitment extending throughout life and focuses on the impact on parental and child behavior of changes in the timing, distribution, and intensity of parental investment. This perspective is particularly appropriate for research on parenting since the family is the universal human institution within which the bearing and rearing of children has been based and which transmits traditions, beliefs, and values to the young.

Parenting takes many twists and turns as we invest our energy into nurturing others. There will be wonderful surprises and proud moments interspersed with times of intense worry, sadness, frustration, and disappointment. Linda E. Powers, who raised three daughters and is a child and adolescent psychotherapist, educator, and former pediatric nurse, helps parents make sense of it all in this guide for helping children of all ages—from infancy into adulthood. She outlines theories of social and emotional development, the importance of mental health during pregnancy, how heredity and environment contribute to temperament, how to improve a toddler’s speech through verbal interactions, the power of play and pretend, ways to help children understand right versus wrong, and how to navigate interactions with adult children. Parenting can be a more positive experience if we understand the developmental process, have good communication tools, and use effective strategies to manage stress while spending quality time with our families. Get meaningful insights to nurture future generations (as well as yourself) with the guidance in Parenting across the Lifespan.

The final volume in this significant series, this publication mirrors the broad scientific attention given to ideas and issues associated with the life-span perspective: constancy and change in human development; opportunities for and constraints on plasticity in structure and function across life; the potential for intervention across the entire life course (and thus for the creation of an applied developmental science); individual differences (diversity) in life paths, in contexts (or the ecology) of human development, and in changing relations between people and contexts; interconnections and discontinuities across age levels and developmental periods; and the importance of integrating biological, psychological, social, cultural, and historical levels of organization in order to understand human development.

This highly anticipated third edition of the Handbook of Parenting brings together an array of field-leading experts who have worked in different ways toward understanding the many diverse aspects of parenting. Contributors to the Handbook look to the most recent research and thinking to shed light on topics every parent, professional, and policymaker wonders about. Parenting is a perennially "hot" topic. After all, everyone who has ever lived has been parented, and the vast majority of people become parents themselves. No wonder bookstores house shelves of "how-to" parenting books, and magazine racks in pharmacies and airports overflow with periodicals that feature parenting advice. However, almost none of these is evidence-based. The Handbook of Parenting is. Period. Each chapter has been written to be read and absorbed in a single sitting, and includes historical considerations of the topic, a discussion of central issues and theory, a review of classical and modern research, and forecasts of future directions of theory and research. Together, the five volumes in the Handbook cover Children and Parenting, the Biology and Ecology of Parenting, Being and Becoming a Parent, Social Conditions and Applied Parenting, and the Practice of Parenting. Volume 4, Social Conditions and Applied Parenting, describes socially defined groups of parents and social conditions that promote variation in parenting. The chapters in Part I, on Social and Cultural Conditions of Parenting, start with a relational developmental systems perspective on parenting and move to considerations of ethnic and minority parenting among Latino and Latin Americans, African Americans, Asians and Asian Americans, Indigenous parents, and immigrant parents. The section concludes with considerations of disabilities, employment, and poverty on parenting. Parents are ordinarily the most consistent and caring people in children’s lives. However, parenting does not always go right or well. Information, education, and support programs can remedy potential ills. The chapters in Part II, on Applied Issues in Parenting, begin with how parenting is measured and follow with examinations of maternal deprivation, attachment, and acceptance/rejection in parenting. Serious challenges to parenting—some common, such as stress and depression, and some less common, such as substance abuse, psychopathology, maltreatment, and incarceration—are addressed as are parenting interventions intended to redress these trials.

Illustrating how relationships change throughout the course of human development from family interactions and friendships to dating and work relationships, this study encompassses a range of topics including ageing experiences, divorce, family violence, gender roles and parenthood.

V.1. Children and parenting. v.2. Biology and ecology of parenting. v.3. Status and social conditions of parenting. v.4. Applied and practical parenting.

This edited volume addresses one of the central issues of family studies - parenting. Terry Arendell uses the social constructionist and the feminist lens to examine current controversies and issues of interest to family professionals and students. This important new volume deals with the history and demography of parenthood, parenting styles and structures, and issues of parenting within the broader community and policy context.

Each chapter of this Study Guide includes: a chapter overview; learning objectives; chapter summary (50 Fill-in-the-Blank statements); review of key concepts (25 Matching); multiple-choice self-test (15 questions from the test bank); and application questions (5 essay questions; model answer one per chapter).