There is extensive research linking healthy child development to effective parenting. Children thrive when parents provide not only affection, but also respectful communication and listening, consistent rules and expectations, and safe opportunities that promote independence. Successful parenting fosters psychological adjustment, helps children succeed in school, encourages curiosity about the world, and motivates children to achieve.
Can Changing Parental Knowledge, Dysfunctional Expectations and Attributions, and Emotion Regulation Improve Outcomes for Children? (PDF - 243 KB)
Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development (2005)
In Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development
Examines the conceptual and empirical basis for strategies for improving child outcomes, such as increasing parents' knowledge of development norms, reducing age-inappropriate expectations or dysfunctional attributions, and increasing parents' capacity to regulate their own emotions.
Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development
Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development
Covers over 30 topics related to the psychosocial development of the child, from conception to age 5, and presents the most up-to-date scientific knowledge.
Learn the Signs, Act Early
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
Lists developmental milestones for children from birth to 5 years to help parents measure their child's growth. Includes interactive tools for parents, fact sheets on developmental disabilities, and public awareness resources for health-care and childcare providers.
The Parenting Imperative: Investing in Parents so Children and Youth Succeed (PDF - 585 KB)
National Human Services Assembly (2007)
Helps policymakers, practitioners, and citizen groups understand what a parenting success strategy is and how to create conditions in communities to strengthen families.