Other People's Kids: Social Expectations and American Adults? Involvement with Children and Adolescents

This volume examines the nature of social norms in general and in relationship to children and adolescents. The book examines the complex dynamics of understanding the appropriate roles of parents and other adults in young people's healthy development. The volume also presents the study's findings in detail, including numerous areas of consensus among American adults, differences among American adults, and the gap between perceived importance and actual engagement. A wide-ranging literature synthesis suggests implications for both personal and collective actions with potential to change norms that inhibit engagement and to strengthen values that encourage engagement.

Other People's Kids is a valuable reference for developmental psychologists, child psychologists, school and community psychologists, practitioners, administrators and policymakers.