In their introduction to their chapter on Parenting Among Latino Families in the U.S. in the fourth volume of the Handbook of Parenting, Drs. Robin Harwood, Birgit Leyendecker, Vivian Carlson, Marysol Asencio and Amy Miller indicate that the United States is in a time of unprecedented ethnic diversity and in an era of revolutionary demographic transformations in the nature of childhood.

In particular, they note, "between 1900 and 1970, European Americans accounted for 85% to 89% of the U.S. child population. By 1995 this proportion had fallen to 69%, and it is projected to decline still further to 42% by 2050. Also by that date, Latino children are expected to be the largest minority group, comprising 28% of the U.S. child population: returns from the 2000 census indicate that Latinos have already surpassed African Americans as the largest U.S. minority population."

"Latinos, an umbrella term used to refer to people who have their origins in Mexico, Central or South America, and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean, are one of the fastest growing minority groups within the United States. Between 1990 and 2000, the Latino population grew 58%, compared to a single-digit growth rate in the nation among non-Latino groups."

"Given the relative youth of the Latino population (over 70% are under age 40), and assuming a continuation of current migratory and fertility trends, the number is expected to rise to one in four by 2050."

Also in their chapter on Parenting Among Latino Families in the U.S. in the Handbook of Parenting, Volume 4, the authors cite specific childrearing beliefs and values to be the central issues in parenting among Latinos in the United States. Two of the beliefs and values which they draw particular attention to are Respeto, or proprer demeanor, and Familismo, or feelings of loyalty, reciprocity and solidarity toward members of the family and the belief that family is an extension of self. Their chapter details the importance and reserach on these beliefs and values.

With grant funding from the National Institute of Mental Health, CICC conducted extensive interviews with Latino American parents about their childrearing beliefs, attitudes, practices and worldviews. The findings of this pioneering study were carefully considered in deciding (a) what to emphasize in the parenting program for Latinos that CICC was in the process of creating; and (b) what to call the program. The primary childrearing value that was reflected in the reserach findings was the value of raising children to be Bien Educados, or well educated in a social sense. CICC chose to make this the program's central value and named the program, "Los Niņos Bien Educados." It also decided to have the parents who would take the program give their own definition of a child who behaves in a "bien educados" manner, since there was much variability in the emphasis on this value based on parental social class standing and how long their family had resided in the United States.

Other key findings had to do with class differences in how children were praised and what sort of practices were used when children disobeyed in a major way. These findings also helped to shape the manner in which the Los Niņos Bien Educados program taught parenting skills.

The findings from this pioneering child rearing study are available in the chapter on Culturally-Adapted Parent Training Programs in a book by CICC's founder and executive director, Dr. Alvy. The book is Parent Training Today: A Social Necessity.

Recognizing the importance of making their programs accessible to Spanish-speaking parents, many of the developers of well-known parenting programs have created translated versions of their programs. These versions teach the basic parenting values and skills of the original programs but they make them available in
Spanish, and their parent handbooks (the books that the parents use in learning program skills and concepts) are available in Spanish.

Instructional kits and materials are now available for teaching the following parenting programs to Spanish- speaking parents:

1,2,3,4 Parents! (1,2,3,4, Padres!) - The Active Parenting Program for Parents of Young Children

Nurturing Program for Parents and Children Birth to Five Years of Age (Crianza con Cariņo para Padres y Niņos)

Nurturing Program for Parents and Children 4 to 12 Years of Age (Crianza con Cariņo para Padres y Hijos)

ABC's for Parents (Assuring Better Children) - A Nurturing Parenting Program for Parents and Children Entering Kindergarten

STEP: Systematic Training for Effective Parenting of Children Six Through Twelve - Spanish Version

Platica De Auto-Estima - A Program to Strengthen Familes and Build Self-Esteem within Spanish-Speaking Communities

Shaking, Hitting, Spanking: What To Do Instead Video Program (Golpes Y Gritos...Como Evitarlos)

A Small Thing Video - To Educate Latino Families About Child Abuse (Poco Cosa)

Llegando A La Meta: Spanish Language Video Program to Promote Parent Involvement in Children's Education
The Families Talk Video Series in Spanish

• Bonding with Your Baby
• Education Starts at Home
• Encouraging Positive Activities
• Fathers Matter
• Foster Parenting
• Marriage

The Gateway to Academic Achievement is a powerful and engaging web CD designed for students, parents and educators that helps bridge the widening 'digital divide' by providing essential resources in a user-friendly format. Featuring hundreds of pertinent and informative web links, the Gateway makes finding homework help or college preparation websites a breeze.

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To further honor and educate parents, Dr. Kerby T. Alvy, the founder and executive director of the Center for the Improvement of Child Caring, now has his own web blog, EducatedParenting.com.

There, Dr. Alvy is sharing his over 30 years of experiences and knowledge in the fields of effective parenting and parenting education. Through bi-weekly posts or messages, he is addressing a wide range of topics and issues that are of importance to parents and to professionals that work with parents and children.

Included are information and viewpoints on the latest research on parenting and child development, commentary on current events and government actions, and resources to assist parents in being as effective and peaceful as possible in raising the next generation.

Your opinions and ideas are valued on EducatedParenting.com. You can share them and Dr. Alvy will respond.

You can also sign-up to be alerted to the issues that are being addressed, so that you won't miss important discussions.