ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with an overview of family composition and the complexities of generational family life. The relationship between practitioners and parents has a significant impact on infant development and parents are viewed by the practitioner as the first primary adults the infant depends on for support in their holistic development. In England the cultural context of the late twentieth century was a relatively stable uniformity of life, evolved around visible rites of passage, a cycle of school, marriage, work, retirement. R. Arnstein’s and R. Hart’s introduction of a ladder in thinking about participation of parents helps think about where practitioners believe infants should be involved in the planning and meeting that regular occurs. The chapter focuses on the challenges in the transition to parenthood and the ways practitioners can support them. It also focuses on a person-centred approach in creating a relationship that suits both practitioner and parents in their roles.
