What is the term for the process through which parents pass on values and norms to their children?

The term that best describes the process through which parents pass on values and norms to their children is cultural transmission. This concept refers to the way in which cultural values, beliefs, and norms are communicated and shared across generations, shaping the identity and behavior of individuals within a society. Parents play a crucial role in this process by providing guidance, modeling behaviors, and imparting lessons that reflect the societal norms and values they expect their children to adopt.

While social reproduction refers more broadly to the perpetuation of social inequality and structures across generations, cultural transmission specifically focuses on how culture and normative behaviors are taught and assimilated. Thus, cultural transmission is the most precise term for the process described in the question.