ABSTRACT
This chapter explores a number of studies that were designed to answer questions about children. Its research agenda primarily centers on uncovering family processes, especially families of color and those living in poverty, and behaviors and attitudes they engage in that ensure their child's success in school and life. The chapter reviews the literature and to understand how scholars frame and theorize about parenting and its influence on child development and how it, as a system, is being influenced. Reflections on current literature, conversations with diverse individuals, and personal experiences refined my thinking to one that is more culturally based rather than one that assumes parenting behaviors, approaches, and intentionality are universal. The researchers hypothesized that these variables would be associated with the frequencies of complementary interactions and reciprocal interactions. The researchers also assessed children's academic achievement, measuring the children's knowledge of letters and words and their knowledge of mathematics including counting, reading numbers, and simple problems.
