Parenting
Parenting practices around the world share three major goals: ensuring children’s health and safety, preparing children for life as productive adults and transmitting cultural values. A high-quality parent-child relationship is critical for healthy development.
Adapted from the Encyclopedia of Psychology
What You Can Do
- Changing Diet and Exercise for Kids
When it comes to establishing healthy habits, you can teach children how to Act Boldly to Change Diet and Exercise (A.B.C.D.E.)
- Facing the School Dropout Dilemma
This article seeks to complement and supplement the APA resolution on school dropout prevention with data from more recent research on child development, early childhood education, and social and emotional learning that helps to define the school dropout dilemma.
- Confronting childhood obesity
Tips and resources for parents about helping their children make better decisions about what they eat to prevent childhood obesity.
- Communication tips for parents
Parenting is hard work, but there are things you can do to maintain a good connection with your children and keep the lines of communication open.
- Single parenting and today's family
Life in a single parent household - though common - can be quite stressful for the adult and the children.
- Parenting: The teen years
The teen years pose some of the most difficult challenges for families. Teenagers, dealing with hormone changes and an ever-complex world, may feel that no one can understand their feelings, especially parents. As a result, the teen may feel angry, alone and confused while facing complicated issues about identity, peers, sexual behavior, drinking and drugs.
- Parents and Caregivers Are Essential to Children’s Healthy Development
Parents and caregivers make sure children are healthy and safe, equip them with the skills and resources to succeed as adults, and transmit basic cultural values to them.
- Staying connected: A guide for parents on raising an adolescent daughter
Take a look at this informative brochure that covers topics including: puberty, peer groups, self-esteem, sexuality, mood swings, rebellion, and much more.
- Parenting
A collection of research studies with a real-world applications, designed to help parents foster high-quality relationships with their children.
Getting Help
News
-
Parental addictions linked to adult children's depression
May 9, 2013, ScienceDaily
-
Women's brains more likely than men's to respond to crying babies
May 7, 2013, Chicago Tribune
-
Survey says: Three is the most stressful number of kids
May 6, 2013, MSNBC
-
Same-sex parents are judged more harshly than heterosexual parents, study suggests
March 25, 2013, ScienceDaily
Monitor on Psychology Articles
- Parenting that works
October 2012
- The case against spanking
April 2012
- Must babies always breed marital discontent?
October 2011
- Biting questions
February 2011
- The power of Dad
October 2010
Books
- Strengthening Couple Relationships for Optimal Child Development
October 2009
- Lesbian and Gay Parents and Their Children
September 2009
- Becoming a Calm Mom
October 2008
APA Offices and Programs
- Children, Youth and Families
The Children, Youth and Families Office supports the work of the APA Committee on Children, Youth and Families and serves as liaison with other APA divisions, related organizations, state associations and federal agencies.
