"The 19th and 20th centuries witnessed a dramatic shift in the role of children in American society and families. No longer necessary for labor, children became economic liabilities. At the same time, parents exhibited a new level of anxiety concerning the welfare of their children and their own ability to parent effectively.".

"Peter N. Stearns explores this phenomenon, examining the new forces that the 20th century brought to bear on families. Surveying popular media, "expert" childrearing manuals, and newspapers and journals published throughout the century, Stearns shows how schooling, physical and emotional vulnerability, and the rise of commercialism became primary concerns for parents.

The result, Stearns shows, is that contemporary parents have come to believe that they are participating in a culture of neglect and diminishing standards. Anxious Parents: A Modern History of Childrearing in America shows the reasons for this belief and its consequences in terms of parental satisfaction through an historical analysis of modern parenting."--BOOK JACKET.