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Since the 1960s, the United States has witnessed a dramatic retreat from marriage, marked by divorce, cohabitation, single parenthood, and lower overall marriage rates. Marriage is now less likely to anchor adults' lives or provide a stable framework for childrearing, especially among poor and working-class Americans. Much research on the retreat from marriage has focused on its economic foundations. Bradford Wilcox, Nicholas Wolfinger, and Charles Stokes take a different tack, exploring cultural factors that may have contributed to the retreat from marriage and the growing class divide in marriage. These include growing individualism and the waning of a family-oriented ethos, the rise of a 'capstone' model of marriage, and the decline of civil society. These cultural and civic trends have been especially consequential for poorer American families. Yet if we take into account cultural factors like adolescent attitudes toward single parenthood and the structure of the family in which they grew up, the authors find, the class divide in nonmarital childbearing among U.S. young women is reduced by about one-fifth. For example, compared to their peers from less-educated homes, adolescent girls with college-educated parents are more likely to hold marriage-friendly attitudes and to be raised in an intact, married home, factors that reduce their risk of having a child outside of marriage. Wilcox, Wolfinger, and Stokes conclude by outlining public policy changes and civic and cultural reforms that might strengthen family life and marriage across the country, especially among poor and working-class families., Over the past half century, the United States has witnessed a dramatic retreat from marriage. The increases we've seen in nonmarital childbearing, age at first marriage, divorce, single parenthood, and [...]

Jeanine Tesori, 43, acclaimed composer of 2002's Tony Award-winning 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' discusses her passion and love for music and strategies that can help parent develop a child's love of music. She states that as music isn't language-dependent, it bridges the gap between cultures, generations, and people and so it's a beautiful way for children to access other cultures.

Action plans to stop the tantrums of a child before he gets used to throwing tantrums all the time are detailed. Rituals like kisses planted on a child's forehead, rising a few minutes earlier to avoid hurrying up, alter ones routine giving the child some time to change increases the love in the child for you.

Babies often cause trouble to intake the medicines prescribed for them and mostly do not follow the prescribed schedule. Different kind and gentle strategies of bringing the baby to take medicine are discussed.

As much as 50% of a child's intelligence is attributable to environmental effects, placing nurture on par with nature. Several tips on how to raise a brilliant baby are provided.

Many educators are reaching out to parents who are eager to introduce their kids to arts. The theory behind the programs is that cultivating visual literacy has lifelong benefits. An early positive experience builds a foundation for deeper engagement with art as children mature.

The research has shown that the first three years of a child's life are critical to development and many parents have felt pressure to do and buy all they can, like computer games, educational toys, flash cards to help their little one's brains develop. In a book, 'Einstein never used flash cards', two psychologists explain a research on the best way to help kids be smart, happy and healthy through play.

Ten things that are not to be done but are accepted as part of the life are mentioned. These include stick the baby in front of the television, stop caring about sex, call the husband as 'daddy', beam and fish for more compliments, gain weight, lose contacts with childless friends, breastfeed in public, take long to back to work or stay at home, nag the husband, and sacrifice things for the well-being of the child.

Sarah Lawrence founded 'Taking Children Seriously' (TCS), a radical parenting movement in England that believes parents should never coerce their kids. The TCS proponents extend their libertarian political philosophy into the realm of child rearing and promote their idea that it is possible and desirable to bring up children entirely without doing things or making them do things against their will.

Adriana Barton an art critic, magazine editor and world traveler, shares experiences of her life. She feels that her hippie upbringing and her parents' free-wheeling ways caused her to rebel.

A comprehensive quiz is given to turn for more newborn knowledge. There is a wealth of information, parents must know, before a baby is born.

A four-month investigation of baby-rearing issues is carried out to help determine where geography has been on one's side. Pediatric experts sort the data, which is crucial for parents and the babies.

Several guidelines on how a baby learns to put his/her body in motion as walking changes the baby's whole outlook are presented. Further what are the stages at which a parent needs to consult a doctor regarding a childEs developmental or medical problem are listed.

Several guidelines for raising a self-confident child right from the start and how a parent can nurture this important quality in their child are presented. Developing self-confidence among a child means little baby is growing up and tackling things by himself.

Help is required by the parents whose kids are entering the teen years and smart companies are listening and lending a helping hand to working mothers. The companies that learn bendability are the most inventive and adaptable by presenting a human face and helping employees carve out a life that works in the office and out of it at any stage in life.

The younger children, if not paid attention do naughty tactics, which might draw attention of their parents, which becomes difficult if the parents are overscheduled and cannot devote enough time. How children can be given more space after knowing their inner needs and mould them accordingly is described.

A child's ideal workspace to do homework and reading must not be associated with play. The elements that make a good workspace for children are described.

Some parents share their experience of taking time off to raise their children. Parents have to struggle when they return to work and hence tips on marketing oneself and preparing oneself to reenter the career or profession left behind are discussed.

The kids are engaged in planned activities, designed to prevent bullying and promote good social skills. Recess is one of the most popular times of the day for bullies to do their devastating damage to victims but teaching children about cooperation in schools can reduce it.

Children learn to read best when it is taught and practiced in a very systematic way by breaking apart and manipulating the sounds in words, by making them understanding that the sounds are represented by letter of alphabets and by blending sounds together to form words. Guidelines are given for parents to help them prepare their child to become a successful reader.

Lot of tension, exhaustion, and frustration that come along with having a new baby that disturbs the personal life frequently is discussed. The physical side of a relationship must be nourished, in order for a couple to be truly happy and fun-filled with each other in the long run.

Many moms find nursing to be one of the most satisfying experiences of their life, so when it is time to wean they feel true sense of loss. Anne Garrett, an international board suggests that if a baby is 4 months old begin the process about a month beforehand and the gradual approach would make it easier for the mom and the child.

Toddlers are high impulsive and self-centered and have a strong need to demonstrate their independence and endless curiosity about their environment. Guidelines are given to parents on how to pick the child and teach them to make wise decisions.

The importance of potty training at an early age is discussed. The early potty training reported that kids younger than 27 months often take longer to toilet train than those who start later.

New moms are motivated to stay healthy, as they want to have lots of energy to care for and enjoy their children. It is suggested that the parents should change the behaviors that they do not wish to pass on to their children, as such children who grow up believing that it is worthwhile to be kind to others, make the world a better place for everyone.

Raising kids in two languages and two cultures is a difficult proposition as it is confusing to the children and makes them feel like an outsider in both the countries. It is not easy for the kid to accept the bilingual and two cultural identity as it is both a blessing and a burden for the kids.

Raising multiple babies is a difficult job, as one is required to double or triple feeding, diapering and laundry, and gets less time to know the baby. Preparing ahead of time is a necessity when one is expecting two or more babies, as also treating the babies like distinct individuals is important so that they begin to see themselves that way.

The ways to bathe a baby and all the supplies needed are mentioned. As per the survey on who usually bathes the baby, it is revealed that mother's contribute 76%, fathers 77% while both 17%.

The motherhood that never included boys, in case of boys, was how to raise them to respect women, and resolve problems without violence. Every parent, after having sons, feels grateful that the society is becoming gentler with males.

Several guidelines of some of the biggest holiday hot spots and the ways to handle toddlers at that spots are presented. Holidays are important to children in their pretend play as they give them a way of marking the year and help anchor them in time and space.

Parents in an effort to feed their children the best possible food are becoming more restrictive in the type of food the kids eat which may not be advisable. Suggestions are offered to parents who have diet regime for their children.

The successful etiquette secrets for kids get-together are presented as two income families are increasing and the get togethers have become more formalized. Play dates are useful in improving child's social skills so the parents have to be well prepared for such a play date.