The Educated Parent: Recent Trends in Raising Children (Child Psychology and Mental Health)

With all of the conflicting advice published on childrearing, it is difficult for parents to determine which sources of child development literature are the best to follow. Sclafani helps readers to access the appropriate research-based findings. He highlights the different approaches to childrearing and provides practical advice about which approaches work best and why. His expertise, drawn from 20 years of teaching and practicing child psychology and family therapy, make him amply qualified to tackle this important subject. This volume provides parents with understandable, straightforward information to help them be more effective and positive in their interactions with their children.

Sclafani covers topics that are relevant to all effective parenting. He starts by acknowledging that the process of parenting is a unique set of behaviors based upon values rooted in ethnicity, culture, and family of origin. Next, attachment, temperament, are parenting style are explained in detail, along with the subjects of family structure and discipline. An entire chapter is devoted to exploring the role of parents in their child's education process. Divorce and re-marriage effects on children and ways for parents to minimize harmful long-term effects are reviewed. The often conflicting research on day care placement and its effects are appraised and considered. Also included is information on managing stress levels within families. Finally, there is a chapter on special topics issues including adoption and chronic illness in children.