Introduction

Parenting, child-rearing, care-giving, and parenting education are key concepts that can impact child outcomes.  Therefore, it is imperative to provide definitions of each concept before learning about “parenting.” I invite you to critically think about each concept and analyze how the information within this book can be applied to each of these words.

Parenting is a process of raising, promoting, and supporting the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development of a child to adulthood and across the lifespan. ^[1]

Child-rearing is oftentimes defined interchangeably with parenting.  However, there are many non-parental figures (e.g., society, day care providers, teachers, governments) who offer similar types of care without being a child’s legal “parent.” ^[2]

Care-giving is the act of assuming the main responsibilities for someone who cannot provide all basic needs for oneself.  Examples might include a parent, day care provider, trained professional, or family member. ^[3]

Parenting education is a process that can help caregivers (and prospective caregivers) understand how to provide developmentally-appropriate care in a safe, loving, nurturing, and stable environment that contributes to a child’s positive health and well-being.  Successful parenting education provides participants with individualized, culturally-relevant knowledge, resources, strategies, tools, networking support, and guidance regarding best-practice approaches to child-rearing.  The goals of parenting education include caregivers learning and implementing this information to facilitate a child’s long-term, positive, emotional, social, physical, and cognitive development. ^[4]

Research continually shows that parenting practices can influence a child’s social, emotional, and intellectual development, especially during the early years (National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine [NASEM], 2016).  Studies also demonstrate that parenting practices can impact a child’s behavioral health, ability to focus (attention), and enhanced sense of security. ^[5]

Further, parenting processes and outcomes can be influenced by factors such as personality, biology, temperament, and the unique experiences of a parent and a child.  Therefore, these processes should be examined within the contexts of social, economic, historical, and psychological factors related to individuals, families, communities, and cultures. ^[6]