Does it really take a village to raise a child?
Community enhances parents and kids.
“To a large extent, yes,” says Martha Erickson,
director of Harris Programs at the Center for Early Education
and Development. “A wealth of research demonstrates the
importance of a strong social support network for parents;
parents best support their children's health and well-being when
they have support for themselves. Also, some interesting
research on adolescents shows that the very positive effects of
"authoritative parenting" (which, in short, includes love, clear
but flexible limits, and reasonably high expectations) are
multiplied for teens whose families are part of a community of
parents who use a similar approach. And, of course, children
benefit directly from having a circle of caring adults who guide
them, set a good example for them, and cheer them on. In other
words, the village helps parents do their best, magnifies the
impact of parents' best efforts, and ultimately enables children
to become their best.”
Read more from Martha Erickson
Growing Concerns, a childrearing question and answer column,
archives
Mother Nature: Raising healthier kids, Erickson is one of
the experts quoted in this USA Weekend article.
More about the Center for Early Education and Development
Early Childhood
Mental Health, Disabilities, and Behavior, ResearchWorks
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