Most children need to be given consistent, clear rules and expectations about behavior. Discipline needs to begin as soon as the child is mobile—pulling up and crawling.

As they assert their growing independence, young people naturally want to act and make decisions on their own, but they still need and want to maintain a close relationship with the adults in their lives, experts say.

few mothers- and fathers-to-be receive training for the much more challenging and long-term tasks: becoming good parents and remaining close and loving partners in the face of new stresses and strains as their family grows.

At times, you should let children show their displeasure at your requests or rules. But they must learn that some words, tones or facial expressions are not proper means of communication.

Peer pressure can get the best of children and push them to do things that they don't really want to do. Parents can counter it, if they're ready to help.

Preventing teen turmoil starts at birth. Parents set examples in the way they interact, express anger, and treat substance abuse.

Adolescence is naturally a time of change, and change can cause stress. But it is also an exciting time for kids and parents to get to know and interact with each other in new and different ways.

Don't argue about cost. Do talk with your children about money management and media messages.

As children grow older, risks get more complex and restrictions harder to enforce.

Kids must cope with all the issues, such as violence or global warming, that stress out adults. But they must also handle stresses added by their parents and the media.

As difficult as it is being a teenager, being a parent of one is even harder.

Getting angry -- and dealing with it -- is part of being a parent. Anger is a natural response to stress, and raising children is stressful. Still, you can take steps to manage your anger so you're more in control and a good role model for your kids. Here's how.

Children look to role models in building their personalities and shaping their behavior. In most families, those models are supplied by the parents.

In the United States, 78 percent of all mothers with kids ages 6 to 17 work in paid jobs. Most—including married working moms—also are responsible for child care and housework.

As the parent of an adopted biracial/bicultural child, it's important o acknowledge that your child is different. The goal is to help your child feel a sense of pride about his or her culture and race so it becomes a positive part of his or her identity.

You want to keep your children safe, yet not make them virtual prisoners in their own home.