Raising the next generation and doing it better

Abstract

Parenting emerges as the most fundamental and universal concern. It cuts across nations, generations, social classes, ethnic groups, religious or political creeds. This paper analyses some of the background that has led to the unprecedented focus on parenting nowadays in western societies and indicates issues to address to raise the next generation better. Three core parenting tasks are determined: care, control and development. To fulfill these tasks adequately parents need to have knowledge and understanding of a child's state, needs and capability in the cause of its growth, the difficulties and problems that may befall it and how to cope with them, in each task of care, control and development. Furthermore parents must be motivated to raise children and must be able to raise children, like having enough material resources (housing, food, warmth) and possessing the skills and the opportunities to adequately care and control for their children.