Roles & Responsibilities of Roles & Responsibilities of ParentingParenting
Unit 1Child Development
Unit Outline
2-2: What Parenthood Means3-1: What Is Parenting?3-2: Guiding Children’s Behavior
2-2 Objectives
Describe the changes that parenthood brings.List considerations couples should look at before deciding to become parents.Using a process to build management skills
“Children Are Watching” Video Clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3WioZcjbysWhat message is the video trying to convey?
Parenthood Brings About Changes
Parenthood – the state of being a parent, which begins when one has a child by birth or adoption
A child brings dramatic and long-lasting changes.
New Responsibilities
Raising a child is more than a day-to-day assignment…
It is LIFE-LONG commitment!!A child needs - - - -
Physical care
LOVEFinancial care
GuidanceSupport
New Responsibilities
You have to consider the child’s needs first.First time parents can feel overwhelmed.
FamilyFriendsCommunity Resources
Changes in Lifestyle
Caring for a young child takes a huge amount of time and energy.Parents have limits placed on their personal freedom.Couples are better able to adjust to these changes in life if they prepare for them.
Emotional AdjustmentsParents feel conflicting emotions such as:
Fear of not being a good parentFrustration at the loss of personal freedom and the addition of new responsibilities.Worry over money mattersJealousy of the baby and the attentionDepression due to exhaustion or to the physical changes of pregnancy and birth.
Changes in Relationships
Some parents feel overwhelmed by negative emotions and begin to bicker or fight with one another.The key to getting past troubled spots is for the couple to have good communication.
Changes in Relationships
Grandparents feel love and joy of their own and want to spend time with the baby.New parents may feel that the grandparent’s advice is really a criticism and resent it.The grand parents my feel hurt if their suggestions are rejected.
Changes in Work
Working women may quit work or cut back on their hours to care for their child.Workers who often put in overtime or weekends may be less willing to put in extra hours.Companies have policies to help working parents.
On-site child-care facilities Flexible hour
The Rewards of Parenthood
Parents feel happiness, pride, and love.Parents can see the world with new eyes.Enrich an already healthy marriageParents experience a great sense of accomplishment.
Making Decisions About Parenthood
People who are thinking about parenthood should have a clear picture of what parenthood is.They also need to take a realistic look at themselves to see if they are ready for parenthood.
Emotional Maturity
Emotional maturity – being responsible enough to consistently put someone else’s needs before you own
Being secure enough to devote your full attention
Prospective parents should take an honest look at their maturity
Desire for Parenthood
Our marriage is in trouble. Maybe having a baby will solve our problems.I want to give a baby my care and love.I feel good about myself and believe that parenthood will be rewarding. Our parents want grandchildren. A baby is someone who will love me and belong to me.
Financial Concerns
Raising a child is VERY expensive!!Couples should take a careful look at the cost involved over the years ahead.
p.a.p.a. What Price is It?
Management Skills
Becoming a good manager is a matter of following five steps:
1. Set GoalsDecide what is important for you and then make them into objectives for you to achieve.
2. Identify ResourcesFigure out your resources to achieve your goal.
3. Make a PlanDecide how you will use your resources to meet that goal.
Management Skills
4. Put the plan in action.Once you have a plan, start working toward your goal.
5. Reevaluate from time to time.Do you need more resources or different ones?Did you achieve your goal more easily than you expected?
3-1 Objectives:
Explain how knowledge of child development is linked to reasonable expectations.Distinguish among different parenting styles.Identify ways to improve parenting skills.Describe how to nurture children.
Parenting: A Learning Process
Parenting – caring for children and helping them develop
Demands Good Judgment:1. Requires knowing when to help and when to
back off2. Parents need to avoid pushing children to try
activities they are not yet ready for.They have to avoid holding children back out of fear they may fail.
3. The skills that parents need change as the child grows.
Having Reasonable Expectations
An essential first step in effective parenting. Caregivers need to be sure to match their expectations to the particular child.Caregivers need to respect the differences between children.
Act your age!!
Finding a Comfortable Parenting Style:
Authoritarian – based on the idea that children should obey their parents without question.Democratic – children have more input into the rules and limitsPermissive – parents give children a wide range of freedom.
Getting Help
Ways to Build Parenting SkillsReading books and magazine articles about parentingGaining experience with childrenAsking advice from family members and friendsObserving other parents and children
The Tasks of Parenting
3 Basic Tasks1. Meet the child’s basic needs2. Nurture3. Guide children to show appropriate
behavior
Meeting Children’s Needs
Provide food, clothing and shelterWatch over their safety and healthBegin teaching them languageFoster intellectual growth by taking an active role in their schoolingTeach them to get along with othersProvide opportunities for them to love and be loved.
NurturingGiving a child opportunities for encouragement and enrichment.Parents are children’s first teachers. Parents need to give children the freedom they need in order to learn.Adults should remove as many barriers as possible that prevent children from exploring the world on their own.Deprivation – lack if an enriching environment
Nurturing
Provide love and supportSome parents become overprotective and overattentive.
Communicating Positively
Use words that the child can understand, but avoid talking down.Be clear. Think in terms of the child’s point of view.Be positive and polite.Give praise and love.Limit the directions to those that are essential.Talk about what’s meaningful to the child.
