Published by Pearson (January 4, 2017) © 2018
Students get a clear, thorough, inclusive understanding of child-parent relations throughout the lifespan.
NEW! Drawing on the theory presented in Chapter 1, the book presents a greater integration of theory, research, and application throughout, providing a better understanding of important topics.
NEW! Readers see the important topics and relationships in the context of what’s really happening in today’s society, for example:
Students gain a better understanding of important theory and topics.
Readers see the important topics and relationships in the context of what’s really happening in today’s society, for example:
Significant updates and changes to the Fourth edition include:
BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1: Historical and Theoretical Influences of Childrearing  
Chapter 2: Parenting Patterns and the Impact of Culture and Context  
Chapter 3: Parents and Children in Varied Family Structures  
Chapter 4: Child Socialization Strategies and Techniques  
Chapter 5: Becoming Parents and Parenting Infants and Toddlers  
Chapter 6: Parent—Preschooler Interactions  
Chapter 7: Parents and Their School-Age Children  
Chapter 8: Parent—Adolescent Interactions  
Chapter 9: The Relationships of Young Adults, Their Parents, and Their Children  
Chapter 10: Middle Age and Older Parenthood and Grandparenthood  
Chapter 11: Parenting Children with Special Needs  
Chapter 12: Families at Risk and Families Coping with the Death of a Family Member 
DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1: Historical and Theoretical Influences of Childrearing 1
Autocratic Parenting: A Tradition of Harsh, Strict Childrearing 2
The Hobbesian View: The Willful Child • Puritan Beliefs: The Sinful Child • The Questioning of Autocratic Parenting • The Legacy of G. Stanley Hall: The Child Study Movement • Watson: The Dangers of Parental Affection
Conflicting Theories About Children’s Behavior and Motivations 6
Theories that Emphasized Parental Understanding of Children • Sigmund Freud: A Focus on Children’s Natural Instincts • Attachment Theory: A Focus on Parental Responsiveness • Benjamin Spock: Limits Within the Context of Warmth and Affection • B. F. Skinner: Reinforcement as a Consequence of Appropriate Behavior • The Social Learning Theorists: Imitation and Modeling • Erikson: The Resolution of Psychological Crises • Respecting and Attending to Children’s Enthusiasm for Learning • Maria Montessori: Children Have Absorbent Minds • Caroline Pratt: Children’s Play Is Their Work • Jean Piaget: Children Actively Engage Their Environments • Lev Vygotsky: Parents as Partners in Children’s Learning
The Role of Context in Child Socialization 16
Rudolf Dreikurs’s Social Discipline Theory: Democracy in the Family • Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model • Parental Ethnotheories: Cultural Ideas Parents Have Regarding Children, Families, and Themselves as Parents • Family Systems Theory • Family Development Theory • The Systemic Family Development Model • The Double ABCX Model of Family Stress and Adaptation
The Importance of the Parental Role 21
Galinsky’s Six Stages of Parenthood • Mothers, Fathers, and Others in the Parenting Role
The Interface Between Parents and the Community 25
Parents, Children, and Technology in the 21st Century 26
Summary 26
Test Your Knowledge 27
Useful Websites 28
Key Terms 28
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Chapter 2: Parenting Patterns and the Impact of Culture and Context 29
Child Socialization Patterns of American Parents 30
Authoritative Parents • Authoritarian Parents • Permissive Parents • Indulgent Parents • Indifferent Parents • Overprotective Parents • Parents with Inconsistent Child Socialization Patterns
Cultural Variations in Parenting Patterns 46
Child Socialization in Non-Western Societies • The Traditional Parenting Pattern in the United States
Other Contextual Influences on Parenting Patterns 53
The Effects of Socioeconomic Status • The Influence of Religiosity • The Influence of Families of Origin • The Effects of Children’s Characteristics • Parenting Styles and Children’s Use of Technology
Summary 60
Test Your Knowledge 61
Useful Websites 61
Key Terms 62
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Chapter 3: Parents and Children in Varied Family Structures 63
Families and Adoption 65
Birth Parents and Adoptive Parents • Domestic Transracial and International Transracial Adoptions
Surrogate Parents: Foster Parents and Grandparents 70
Foster Parents and Foster Children • Grandfamilies: Grandparents Rearing Their Grandchildren
Parents and Children Affected by Divorce 76
The Effects of Custody Arrangements • Factors Related to the Postdivorce Adjustment of Children • Parents and Children in Stepfamilies
Adolescent Parents and Their Children 83
Pregnancy and Childbirth • Teenage Fatherhood • The Children of Adolescent Parents • Support for Adolescent Parents and Their Children
Families With a Member Who Is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender 88
Changing Views of Family to Include LGBT People • The Pathways to Parenthood for LGBT Parents • Challenges for Gay and Lesbian Parents and Their Children • Children Who Are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender
Parents and Children in Immigrant Families 94
Acculturation • Language Differences
Parents and Children in Military Families 97
Domestic and International Relocation • The Effects of Deployment on Family Members
Summary 102
Test Your Knowledge 103
Useful Websites 103
Key Terms 104
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Chapter 4: Child Socialization Strategies and Techniques 105
Guidance as Prevention of Problems 106
Establishing an Atmosphere of Psychological Safety • Guidance as Encouragement of Children • Four Pluses and a Wish–A Strategy for Motivating Children’s Compliance • The Concept of Belongingness and Children’s Goals of Misbehavior
Effective Parent—Child Communication as a Parenting Strategy 116
Problem Ownership • Active Listening • I-Messages
Guidance as Reinforcement and Modeling 121
Reinforcement of Approved Behavior • Imitation and Modeling
Guidance as Limits, Consequences, and Conflict Resolution 124
The Technique of Induction • Natural and Logical Consequences • Problems Associated with Using Punishment as a Disciplinary Strategy
Resolving Parent—Child Conflict 130
The Advantages of Using the No-Lose Method of Conflict Resolution
Summary 133
Test Your Knowledge 134
Useful Websites 134
Key Terms 135
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Chapter 5: Becoming Parents and Parenting Infants and Toddlers 136
Pathways to Parenthood 137
The Decision to Become Parents • Pathways to Parenthood in Contemporary Society • Optimizing the Chances of Having Healthy Babies
Birth and the Transition to Parenthood 144
When Infants Are Born Early and/or Small • The Transition to Parenthood: A Major Developmental Milestone • Changes in Family and Friendship Networks • Caring for Infants and Toddlers in a Coparenting Relationship • Social Support for Parents of Infants and Toddlers
Promoting the Social-Emotional Development of Infants and Toddlers 148
Infant Trust and Attachment • Parental Support of Self-Regulatory Behavior • Parent—Infant Play • Parental Influences on Toddlers’ Autonomy and Exploratory Behavior
Promoting the Cognitive Development of Infants and Toddlers 156
Insights from Piaget • Insights from Vygotsky • Insights from Brain Research • Parents’ Understanding of Infant Perception • Promoting Infant Language Development
Promoting the Physical Development of Infants and Toddlers 160
Meeting Nutritional Needs • Providing Health Care • The Promotion of Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Infant/Toddler Care When Parents Are at Work 164
The Quality of Center-Based Care and Home-Based Care • Infants and Toddlers in Child Care Settings
Summary 166
Test Your Knowledge 167
Useful Websites 168
Key Terms 168
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Chapter 6: Parent—Preschooler Interactions 169
The Parental Role in Promoting Preschoolers’ Social-Emotional Development 170
Early Attachment and Parent—Preschooler Relationships • Promoting the Young Child’s Sense of Initiative • Parental Contributions to Preschoolers’ Self-Esteem • Talking to Young Children About Their Emotions • Promoting Preschoolers’ Self-Reliance • Helping Young Children Discover Their Personal Boundaries
Promoting Young Children’s Cognitive Development 176
Insights from Piaget • Insights from Vygotsky • The Role of Parents in Promoting Language Development
Promoting Preschoolers’ Physical Development 183
Meeting the Nutritional Needs of Preschoolers • Understanding the Brain Development of Young Children • The Promotion of Fine and Gross Motor Skills
The Development of Personal and Family Life Skills 190
Child Care for Preschool Children 191
Quality Child Care Indicators
Challenges and Concerns of Parents of Young Children 192
Sleeping Problems • Sibling Relationships • Aggressive Behaviors • Unsupervised Risk-Taking Behaviors
Summary 198
Test Your Knowledge 200
Useful Websites 200
Key Terms 200
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Chapter 7: Parents and Their School-Age Children 201
Promoting School-Age Children’s Social-Emotional Development 202
Parental Influences on Their Children’s Psychosocial Development
Parental Influences on Children’s Social Relationships 204
Promoting School-Age Children’s Cognitive Development 211The Influence of Childrearing Patterns • The Role of Attachment • The Effect of Context • Parental Structuring of Children’s Leisure Time and Peer Group Relations • The Parents’ Role in Children’s Informal Leisure Activities
Encouraging Children’s Logical Reasoning • The Use of Guided Participation • The Role of Parents in Children’s School Achievement
Promoting the Physical Development of School-Age Children 215
Meeting School-Age Children’s Nutritional Needs • Nutrition and the Growing Problem of Children Being Overweight • Promoting Motor Skills
The Benefits and Challenges of Media 225
The Benefits of Media • The Challenges of Media
Summary 227
Test Your Knowledge 229
Useful Websites 229
Key Terms 229
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Chapter 8: Parent—Adolescent Interactions 230
The Role of Parents in Adolescents’ Cognitive Development 231
The Development of the Ability to Use Abstract Reasoning • The Influence of Parents on Academic Achievement
The Role of Parents in Adolescents’ Social-Emotional Development and Social Relationships 234
The Role of Parents in Adolescents’ Conceptions of Self
Adolescent Puberty and Parent—Child Relations 238
Puberty and Adolescent Relationships with Parents
Changes in the Family System and Parent—Adolescent Conflict 240
Disequilibrium in the Family • Parent—Adolescent Conflict
Problems That Adolescents Sometimes Face 244
The Role of Parents in Adolescent Depression • The Role of Parents in Adolescent Problems of Being Overweight • Adolescents Who Are Underweight • The Role of Parents in Adolescent Substance Abuse • The Role of Parents in Adolescent Crime and Delinquency • The Role of Parents in the Early Onset of Sexual Behavior • Adolescent Bullying and Victimization
The Benefits and Challenges of Media and Other Technology 254
The Benefits of Technology for Adolescent Development and Family Dynamics • The Challenges of Media and Technology for Adolescents and Their Families
Summary 257
Test Your Knowledge 259
Useful Websites 259
Key Terms 259
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Chapter 9: The Relationships of Young Adults, Their Parents, and Their Children 260
The Role of Parents in Young Adults’ Assumption of Adult Roles 261
The Launching of Young Adults • When Young Adults Establish Separate Residences
The Enduring Bond Between Young Adults and Their Parents 265
The Economic Interdependence of Young Adults and Their Parents
Parenthood and the Social-Emotional Development of Young Adults 267
The Attachment of Young Adults to Their Parents • The Role of Parents in Promoting Young Adults’ Achievement of Intimacy • Parent—Child Relationships and the Achievement of a Sense of Generativity
The Influence of Parent—Child Relationships on Young Adults’ Cognitive Development 276
Parenthood and Higher-Level Reasoning: A Piagetian Perspective • Parenthood and Vygotsky’s Concept of Scaffolding
The Parallel Role Development of Young Adults and Their Parents: The Role of Filial Maturity 280
Dimensions of Filial Maturity
Summary 283
Test Your Knowledge 285
Useful Websites 285
Key Terms 285
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Chapter 10: Middle-Age and Older Parenthood and Grandparenthood 286
The Influence of Role Transitions on the Relationships of Middle-Aged Adults and Their Adult Children 287
The Effects of Adult Children’s Normative Transitions • The Effects of Adult Children’s Non-Normative Social Status Transitions • The Effects of Middle-Age Parents’ Social Status Transitions
The Influence of Role Transitions on the Relationships of Older and Middle-Age Adults 291
The Effects of Older Adults’ Normative Role Transitions on the Relationships with Their Children and Grandchildren
The Influence of Intergenerational Relationships on Older Persons’ Psychological Development 293
Parent—Child Relations and Older Adults’ Sense of Integrity • Grandparenthood, Personhood, and the Life Course • Grandparent Caregivers in the United States • Grandparent—Grandchildren Relationships: A Global Perspective
The Able Elderly in the Family Context 299
The Relationships of Older Adults and Their Children
The Relationships of Aging Parents with Adult Children 304
When Older Parents Become Chronically Ill and/or Frail • The Challenges Associated With Providing Care for Elderly Parents • Families and Assisted Living
Summary 310
Test Your Knowledge 311
Useful Websites 311
Key Terms 311
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Chapter 11: Parent—Child Relationships in Families Where Children or Parents Have Special Needs 312
Parenting Children Who Have Exceptionalities 313
The Importance of Person-First Language • Parental Reactions to Having a Child With a Disability • The Role of Parents of Children With Exceptionalities • The Challenges of Parenting Children With Exceptionalities • Support for Parents Caring for a Child With a Disability • Parental Advocates for Their Children With Exceptionalities
Parenting Children Who Have Cognitive Deficits, Autism, or Adhd 318
Parenting Children With Cognitive Impairments • Parenting the Child With Autism • Parenting Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Parenting Children with Exceptionalities Related to Learning 323
Children With Learning Disabilities • Parenting Children Who Are Gifted
Parenting Children with Sensory Impairments 326
Parenting Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired • Parenting Children Who Are Hearing Impaired
Parenting Children with Physical Disabilities or Chronic Illnesses 330
Parenting Children With Physical Impairments • Parenting Children With Chronic Illnesses • The Effects of a Child’s Chronic Illness on Parental Stress and Family Relationships
When Parents Have Exceptionalities or Disabilities 334
Parents With ADHD • When a Parent Has a Sensory Impairment • When the Parent Has a Physical Disability
Summary 338
Test Your Knowledge 339
Useful Websites 340
Key Terms 340
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Chapter 12: Families at Risk and Families Coping with the Death of a Family Member 341
Historical and Contemporary Responses to Child Maltreatment In the United States 342
The History of Child Maltreatment in the United States • Factors Related to Child Maltreatment • The Effects of Maltreatment on Children’s Lives • Interventions for Parental Maltreatment of Children
Children’s Exposure to Interparental Violence 349
The Effects of Interparental Violence on Children’s Development • Interventions for Domestic Violence
The Effects of Parental Alcoholism 352
The Dynamics in Families Affected by Parental Alcoholism • Adapting to the Dynamics of a Family Affected by Parental Alcohol Abuse • The Effects of Parental Alcoholism on the Lives of Children • Adult Children of Alcoholic Parents • Families in Recovery
Coping with the Untimely Death of a Family Member 357
The Death of a Parent During Childhood or Adolescence • The Death of a Sibling During Childhood or Adolescence • Comforting Grieving Children and Adolescents • The Grief of Parents When Their Child Dies • Helping Parents Cope with the Death of a Child
The Death of an Older Parent or Grandparent 361
The Death of an Older Parent • The Death of a Grandparent • The Legacy That Older Persons Leave for Their Adult Children and Their Grandchildren
Summary 363
Test Your Knowledge 365
Useful Websites 365
Key Terms 365
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Appendix
Four Nationally Recognized Parenting Programs 366
Glossary 371
References 375
Author Index 420
Subject Index 440
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Phyllis Heath is Professor Emerita, Central Michigan University. Her research focus has included parent-child relations in various contexts and cultures, including indigenous cultures in Mexico and South Africa. Her previous textbooks published by Pearson Education include previous editions of Parent-Child Relations in 2005, 2009 and 2013.
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