Transcript Chapter 9 Parenting Roles and Responsibilities

Chapter 9
Parenting Roles and Responsibilities
Section 9-1
Parenting Choices
Objectives
State the goal of parenthood
describe the challenges of
parenthood
recognize the challenges faced in
youth parenting
analyze the factors that influence
parenthood decisions
Parenting Choices
Parenting is the name given to the process of raising a child.
It includes the love, care, and guidance given by parents in this
process.
Parenting begins with birth or adoption of a child and lasts a
lifetime.
Even if a marriage breaks apart (or there is no marriage),
parents are still the parents of their child.
Couples should have a full understanding of the demands and
rewards before committing themselves to become parents.
People who begin parenting without knowledge and planning
may fall short.
The Goal of Parenting
The primary goal of parenting is to help children grow
and become mature, independent individuals who an
make their own decisions and accept responsibility for
their actions.
There is no recipe to follow.
Each child is unique, and each situation is unique.
The best way to prepare yourself for parenthood is to
learn as much as possible about children.
The Goals of Parenting
Helping Children Grow Up Responsibly
Teaching Values and Standards
parents must establish values and standards of their own in order to
teach children how to evaluate the importance of something
parents must live a lifestyle that reflects their beliefs so their children
will be able to follow their examples and adopts similar values
Allow children to learn through new experiences
Parents often want to cushion the path for their children but this may
actually hinder their development
children should be allowed to try things on their own
The Goals of Parenting
Helping Children Grow..Cont.
Recognizing the Importance of
Other People in Children’s Lives
As children mature, they want and
need to meet many different
people
Parents with a healthy attitude
recognize this as a positive mark of
growth
Parents with less healthy attitudes
may feel jealous
The Challenges of Parenting
Commitment of time and energy - babies have to be fed,
bathed, and clothed. Cries have to be answered, even in the
middle of the night.
Patience - children ask many questions which can be very
frustrating to parents.
Financial commitment - costs of clothing, furniture, toys, food,
transportation, education, medical care, recreation. Child
care is an expense if both parents work.
Health Risks
Youth Parenting
lack of medical care or poor nutrition puts mother and child at risk
pregnancy related illnesses like preeclampsia (also called toxemia) is more common in
teen mothers
because their own bodies are still maturing, teens have higher risk of premature and
low-birthweight babies
Infant death rate is higher among teen mothers
best childbearing years are from ages 20 - 32
Emotional Changes
many teen marriages occur because the girl becomes pregnant and these marriages
have a high divorce rate
young couples are still growing up themselves and are often unable to deal with the
pressures of marriage and parenthood
teens are forced to grow up and assume adult roles
they are parents to their babies while they remain children to their own parents
Youth Parenting Cont.
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Social Changes
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Working and child-care responsibilities mean they are less likely to
experience a normal social life with friends their age.
Opportunities to socialize with friends is limited.
Seeing their friends having more freedom and fewer responsibilities can
create feelings of frustration and anger and lead to depression.
Education and Career
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Many drop out of high school which severely limits their lifetime earning
potential.
Teens and their children suffer economic consequences.
Youth Parenting
The Children of Youth Parents
Children of teens are at greater risk than children born to older parents:
Health Risks – young mothers may not be aware of certain prenatal
precautions/behaviors
Academic Risks – first 2 years are most critical
Emotional Risks – teens may be unable to spend quality time with their children
Social Risks – children born to teens are more likely to become teen parents
themselves
Economics – teens often lack education and job skills
Child Care – quality children care is expensive
Neglect and Abuse – pressures of parenthood are often too much to handle
Deciding Whether to Have
Children
Reasons for Having Children (Why have them?)
Sharing the joys and responsibilities of raising a
child brings many couples closer together
Desire to have a family lifestyle
Enrich their lives and share experiences with
children
They do not want to miss the special experiences
of life that children make possible
Fulfilling role expectations
Deciding Whether to Have
Children
Reason For NOT Having Children
Prefer the freedom of a childless lifestyle
Career demands
Expense of raising a child
An unhappy childhood or fear of raising a child
Other Factors Affecting Parenthood Decisions
Couples should discuss short-term and long-term goals they have set (how
will children fit into the goals
Is their relationship strong enough
Are they BOTH ready to accept responsibilities of being a parent
Section 9-2
Being a Responsible Caregiver
Objectives:
Name possible caregivers for
children
List characteristics of a
responsible caregiver
Describe the responsibilities
of caregivers
Determine helpful resources
for caregivers
Identify employment
opportunities for caregivers
Terms to Know
Caregiver – is a person who provides care
for someone else
Hotline – a number people can call for
information or assistance with a specific
problem
Nanny – a trained caregiver who provides
quality care for children in the parent’s
home
Child Care Cooperative – formed by
groups of parents who share in the care of
the children
Foster Care – care provided for a child
who needs a home temporarily
Who Are the Caregivers
Caregivers may be responsible for an older
person, a person with disabilities, or a child
A child may have different caregivers, including
parents, grandparents, babysitters, and teachers
You may be a caregiver (care for younger sibling
or babysit for friends and family)
The primary caregivers are parents, they have
the main responsibility for caring for their child’s
needs
Who Are Caregivers
Many of a child’s caregivers are related to the child,
like an older sibling, grandparent, aunt/uncle
Other caregivers include babysitters, child care
providers, and preschool teachers
Guardians and foster parents are caregivers who are
legally responsible for the care of a child if the
parents are unable to do so
A neighbor who volunteers to watch a child is a
caregiver
Four Characteristics of
Responsible Caregivers
Personal Qualities
Enjoy children
Patient
Flexible
Alert to Children’s Needs
Exercise Self-Control
Consistent
Set Good Examples
Four Characteristics of
Responsible Caregivers
Personal Skills
Communication Skills – communicating clearly
with children, tell them what to do rather than
what not to do
Judgment Skills – making decisions on how to
handle situations involving children (conflicts)
Management Skills – plan ahead and be able
to manage resources and time
Four Characteristics of
Responsible Caregivers
Knowledge and Experience
Knowledge about child growth and development
(knowing what to expect at different ages)
Knowledge of children’s expected behavior at
different ages
Experience is often the best teacher but reading
books or taking a class on child development can
increase a beginning caregivers knowledge of
children
Four Characteristics of
Responsible Caregivers
Good Health
Much energy is expended physically, mentally, and emotionally during a
day with children
Good health is vital in order for caregivers to function to their best ability.
Caregivers should always
Focus on proper nutrition
Get enough rest
Exercise regularly
Maintain Immunizations
Responsibilities of
Caregivers
Caregivers are responsible for meeting the following needs of
children:
Physical Needs – providing food, clothing, shelter and
medical care, caregivers are responsibly for the health and
safety of children
Social Needs – responsible for helping children learn
valuable lessons in sharing, communicating, and compromising
Emotional Needs – children need to feel loved and be able
to express emotions but realize there are limits
Intellectual Needs – help children develop language skills,
thinking skills and providing suitable learning opportunities
Resources for Caregivers
Local library for books and magazines
Creditable websites can provide valuable
information
Public and private agencies within the community
Hotlines
A support group
Employment Opportunities
for Caregivers
Most experts feel the ideal environment to raise
a child is in the home with at least one parent
Professional child care workers must met state
licensing requirements in order to work with
young children
Most child care jobs require additional education
beyond high school
Licensing requirements vary from state to state
Employment Opportunities
for Caregivers
Child Care in the Parent’s Home
Caregiver comes to the parent’s home and is often a relative.
Nanny – trained caregiver who provides quality care for children in the
parent’s home
Live-in Nanny – receives room and board, plus a salary
Child Care in the Caregiver’s Home
Most common type of child care
Hours are usually more flexible and care costs less
Children are less likely to become over-stimulated by activities of a large
group of children
Most state require licensing
Employment Opportunities
for Caregivers
Child Care Cooperatives
Allow parents more control over the child care program
Parents hire teachers or other personnel who may be needed
Cooperatives are formed so parents can take turns caring for children
Pay for the care of their children by working in the center
School/University-Sponsored Child Care Programs
Offer high quality in both staff and curriculum
Religious or Social Group Programs
Usually cost less because the sponsor helps fund the cost
Religious linked child care would not likely have building expense because
child care is provided in the worship building free of charge
Staff for these programs are responsible to the parents and the sponsor
Employment Opportunities
for Caregivers
Government-Sponsored Child Care
Head Start
Offered to lower-income working families who may need low-cost child care
Employer-Sponsored Child Care
Can be located on-site or off-site close to workplace
Privately Owned or Franchised Child Care Centers
Profit motivated
Operated as any other business
Most are privately-owned
Societies Role in Protecting
Children’s Rights
Children are easily hurt because they are physically
weaker than adults and cannot reason as adults
Parents are responsible for the physical and financial
care of their children
If parents do not provide these needs the state can
act on the child’s behalf and provide protection
Children may be placed in foster homes because
they have been abandoned, abused, or neglected by
their parents
Employment Opportunities
for Caregivers
Laws are also passed to require parents to send
their children to school up to a certain age
Child labor laws protect children from unsafe
working conditions or jobs that interfere with
their education
States also provide child welfare services which
offers food and medical assistance