Description: Children live in rapidly changing times that require them to constantly adapt to new economic, social, and cultural conditions. In this book, a distinguished, interdisciplinary group of scholars explores the issues faced by children in contemporary societies, such as discrimination in school and neighborhoods, the emergence of new family forms, the availability of new communication technologies, and economic hardship, as well as the stresses associated with immigration, war, and famine. The book applies a historical, cultural, and life-course developmental framework for understanding the factors that affect how children adjust to these challenges, and offers a new perspective on how changing historical circumstances alter children's developmental outcomes. It is ideal for researchers and graduate students in developmental and educational psychology or the sociology and anthropology of childhood.
Brief description: Ross D. Parke is Distinguished Professor of Psychology Emeritus and former Director of the Center for Family Studies at the University of California, Riverside. He has received awards for his research from both the American Psychological Association (G. Stanley Hall Award) and the Society for Research on Child Development (Distinguished Scientific Contribution to Child Development).
Review Quotes: 'Children in Changing Worlds is an extraordinary body of work. Edited by renowned scholars Parke (Univ. of California, Riverside) and Elder (Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill), this collection helps readers understand child development in an ever-changing, fast-paced world. Focusing on children in urban environments, migrant children, and children of means, Parke and Elder have brought together world-class experts on child development and behavior. They delve into historical and life course transitions, facilitating in particular readers' understanding of the impact of education, developmental risks, and resilience. The book also immerses readers in the discourse on family and how it influences child development before concluding with an interdisciplinary dialogue from developmental and sociological perspectives. This is an essential read for anyone studying child development.' D. E. Kelly, Choice