ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the role of the family and parenting in child development. It provides an overview of the different types of family units within our society. The chapter develops an awareness of some of the different parenting styles and the potential impact on child development. It considers some of the different types of homes and environments in which children live and how these are central to a child's culture. The chapter provides an overview of the development of children's rights and considers some of the negative influences on childhood and how these can adversely affect the child. It also considers some of the more recent views on the nature of childhood. When families are separated by long distances, especially coupled with an increasingly fragmented society where parents are driven by economics to work long hours and spend less time with their family, the development of parenting skills and support are weakened.
