PSYC 3315 Attachment Informed Parenting

This course examines contemporary parenting approaches through the lens of attachment theory and developmental science. Drawing primarily from The Whole-Brain Child (Siegel & Bryson, 2011), Simplicity Parenting (Payne & Ross, 2009), and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers (Damour, 2023), the course explores the foundations of parenting methods, their historical and social contexts, and the ways in which different approaches shape childrens emotional, cognitive, and relational development. Students will consider behavior-based methods, authoritarian and authoritative parenting, gentle parenting, and other contemporary frameworks, evaluating their effectiveness and alignment with attachment-informed principles. Students will gain a nuanced understanding of how childrens developmental needsand the parenting practices used to address themchange from the early years through adolescence. Emphasis will be placed on moving beyond rigid labels to consider the assumptions, strengths, and limitations of each approach, as well as how attachment-informed parenting can balance connection, boundaries, simplicity, autonomy, and developmentally appropriate expectations at different ages. Class sessions will blend lecture, discussion, and applied activities including reflection, case analysis, and multimedia materials.