Childbearing And The Changing Nature Of Parenthood

Around the globe, the very conceptualization of family is associated with the relationship between a parent and a child. The birth of a child represents both the end of one experience, and the beginning of another.

Around the globe, the very conceptualization of family is associated with the relationship between a parent and a child. The birth of a child represents both the end of one experience, and the beginning of another.

Decades of research have demonstrated that the parent-child dyad and the environment of the familyâ€"which includes all primary caregiversâ€"are at the foundation of children's well- being and healthy development. From birth, children are learning and rely on parents and the other caregivers in their lives to protect and care for them. The impact of parents may never be greater than during the earliest years of life, when a child's brain is rapidly developing and when nearly all of her or his experiences are created and shaped by parents and the family environment. Parents help children build and refine their knowledge and skills, charting a trajectory for their health and well-being during childhood and beyond. The experience of parenting also impacts parents themselves. For instance, parenting can enrich and give focus to parents' lives; generate stress or calm; and create any number of emotions, including feelings of happiness, sadness, fulfillment, and anger. Parenting of young children today takes place in the context of significant ongoing developments. These include: a rapidly growing body of science on early childhood, increases in funding for programs and services for families, changing demographics of the U.S. population, and greater diversity of family structure. Additionally, parenting is increasingly being shaped by technology and increased access to information about parenting. Parenting Matters identifies parenting knowledge, attitudes, and practices associated with positive developmental outcomes in children ages 0-8; universal/preventive and targeted strategies used in a variety of settings that have been effective with parents of young children and that support the identified knowledge, attitudes, and practices; and barriers to and facilitators for parents' use of practices that lead to healthy child outcomes as well as their participation in effective programs and services. This report makes recommendations directed at an array of stakeholders, for promoting the wide-scale adoption of effective programs and services for parents and on areas that warrant further research to inform policy and practice. It is meant to serve as a roadmap for the future of parenting policy, research, and practice in the United States.

This volume tackles key issues in the changing nature of family life from a global perspective, and is essential reading for those studying and working with families. Covers changes in couple relationships and the challenges these pose; parenting practices and their implications for child development; key contemporary global issues, such as migration, poverty, and the internet, and their impact on the family; and the role of the state in supporting family relationships Includes a stellar cast of international contributors such as Paul Amato and John Coleman, and contributions from leading experts based in North Africa, Japan, Australia and New Zealand Discusses topics such as cohabitation, divorce, single-parent households, same-sex partnerships, fertility, and domestic violence Links research and practice and provides policy recommendations at the end of each chapter

A sociological study of how the birth of first and second children affects parents. It uses in-depth interviews with 20 couples taken during the third, sixth, and ninth month after the birth of a child, to monitor changes in the marriage, sex-roles, and attitudes of the parents, and to explore the social context in which they occurred. `The authors point out (and this reviewer readily agrees) that several things make this book unique. First, it is grounded in sociological theory...Second, the book is about early parenthood from the parental perspective...Last, the study explores both first- and second-time parenthood.' -- Contemporary Sociology, March 1982, Vol 11 No 2 `This book is unique in many wa

In this unusual but exciting look at a complex topic, family scholars offer a vast array of insights into the multiple consequences, concerns, and characteristics of parenthood. The transition to parenthood--the most critical step in individual and family life cycles--is thoroughly examined from a social psychological perspective. Cultural and ethnic factors are considered as major influences in the transition to parenthood, as are changing patterns in the work force, the consequences of the gender revolution, and altered patterns of marriage and divorce--all of which have shattered the traditional ways of parenting. Family theorists, practitioners, and parents are strongly encouraged to further research and discuss the necessary elements and available options involved in facing the changes brought on by parenthood.

ALERT: Before you purchase, check with your instructor or review your course syllabus to ensure that you select the correct ISBN. Several versions of Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products exist for each title, including customized versions for individual schools, and registrations are not transferable. In addition, you may need a CourseID, provided by your instructor, to register for and use Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products. Packages Access codes for Pearson's MyLab & Mastering products may not be included when purchasing or renting from companies other than Pearson; check with the seller before completing your purchase. Used or rental books If you rent or purchase a used book with an access code, the access code may have been redeemed previously and you may have to purchase a new access code. Access codes Access codes that are purchased from sellers other than Pearson carry a higher risk of being either the wrong ISBN or a previously redeemed code. Check with the seller prior to purchase. -- Parenting through the lifespan This inclusive, research-based text on parenting through the lifespan helps students work with parents as professionals, as well as develop life skills. Parenting in Contemporary Society, Fifth Edition provides in-depth information about parenting through the lifespan and in diverse family types. It includes all types of parents and family situations, examines similarities and differences among parents in four major minority groups, and examines the various risks, challenges, and alternatives available to parents. Learning Goals Upon completing this book, readers should be able to: Recognize the changing nature of parenting throughout the life cycle, from infancy through old age, including the reciprocal nature of the parent-child relationships Understand parenting differences in diverse cultures and families Identify parenting strategies in high-risk families with teenage parents, abusive parents, and homeless families, and families with exceptional children Recognize alternatives to biological parenthood: adoptive parenthood, parenting through assisted reproduction (artificial insemination by donor, in vitro fertilization, surrogate mothers, etc.), and foster parenthood Understand timely issues in child care and early education including types of programs, differences in infant care and self care, the importance of quality care, the effects of child care on children, and other preschool programs Note: MySearchLab does not come automatically packaged with this text. To purchase MySearchLab, please visit: www.mysearchlab.com or you can purchase a ValuePack of the text + MySearchLab with Pearson eText (at no additional cost). ValuePack ISBN-10: 0205863736 / ValuePack ISBN-13: 9780205863730

This 1988 book brings together leading scholars from a range of disciplines concerned with the study of the transition to parenthood. The text discusses the reasons why some new parents experience an enhanced sense of self and a deepening of important relationships, whereas others experience crisis and conflict.