Parents in American culture have tremendous influence over their children’s social/emotional development. Beginning with talking and reading to infants, to later discussing values (often done in conversations around the dinner table), parents shape the child’s belief system. However as the child grows, parents are just one of several influences affecting the child. This is especially true when children enter school. It's extremely important that parents give children a healthy start. However it is equally important that parents recognize the differences in the temperament of their children. It is the parents' job to provide opportunities for the child to relate with the world around them. The long term objective is to eventually prepare a child for complete adulthood and independence. Ours is a rapidly changing world, and parenting seems subject to fads and changing styles. In some instances parenting may feel similar to a competitive sport. Despite the changes in styles, the needs of child development, remain surprisingly stable over time. There are situations when overparenting becomes obvious to others. Adults that aim for perfection in parenting might be disappointed later. Too much parenting has a negative effect on children as they move into adulthood. This causes the children to lack self-confidence and makes them unable to cope with slightest of setbacks. In contrast, there is also the opposite, known as too little parenting. Research affirms that lack of parental involvement often leads to poor behavioral outcomes in children. When there is too little parental involvement, the child will seek out the peer group. This encourages young people to be reliant on peer culture. Surprisingly, rigid and authoritarian parenting styles can have the same effect.