Families

Functions of Family

Meet basic needs Prepare children to live in society by:

Example Talking Religion

Types of Families

Nuclear Family: Mother, father, at least 1 child2 parents can help in raising children

Single-Parent Families: mother or father, at least 1 childLittle free time for parent, financial burdens,

no one to share work with

Cont’d

Blended families: single parent marries another person who may or may not have children

Extended families: includes relatives other than a parent or child who live with them

Entering a Family

Guardians- take care of all financial and legal responsibility

Adoption-legal process; children enter family not born into

Foster children-stay with a temporary family

Family Life Cycle

Page 64-65 of “The Developing Child” Book

ParentingParenthood and

Parenting

Parenthood

New responsibilities

Lifestyle changes

Emotional changes

Relationship changes

Changes at work

Emotions

Fear

Frustration

Financial

Depression

Jealousy

Unsound reasons for parenthood

Sound reasons for parenthood

The Tasks of Parenting

Meet the child’s basic needsNurture childrenGuide children to show appropriate behavior

Parenting Styles

Authoritarian-children should obey parents without question

Democratic-children have more input into rules and limits

Permissive-children given a wide range of freedom

Activity

“Wanted: Perfect Parents”

Create a newspaper add that states what you think are the qualities and characteristics of perfect parents.

What is Parenting?

Caring for children and helping them develop, requires understanding a child’s needs and meeting them.

Demands good judgment in 3 ways:Knowing when to help and when to back offAvoid pushing children to try activities they

are not ready for; don’t hold backAdapt parenting skills at each stage of

development

How to Build Parenting Skills

Books and magazinesGaining experienceAsking for adviceObserving

Meeting Children’s Needs

Provide with food, clothing, shelterWatch over 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

Nurturing

Giving a child opportunities for encouragement and enrichment, and showing love, support, and concern.

Deprivation-lack of an enriching environment

Communicating Positively

Use words the child understands; avoid talking down to the child

Be clearBe positive and politeGive praise and loveLimit directions to those that are

essentialTalk about what is meaningful

Guiding Children’s Behavior

Punishment is part of guidance, and should only be used when necessary

Guidance means using firmness and understanding to help children learn to control their own behavior

Effective guidance leads to self-discipline

Self-discipline is important to emotional, social, and moral development

Children develop a conscience- an inner sense of what is right

Consistency

Consistency is key3 ways adults can guide children to

behave appropriately:Encourage appropriate behavior

Setting and enforcing limits

Dealing with inappropriate behavior in effective ways

Encouraging Appropriate Behavior

• Set a good example• talking politely

• Children need to be told what is expected of them in ways they can understand

• Positive reinforcement• Be specific, notice as soon as possible,

recognize small steps, help child take pride in his actions, tailor encouragement to the needs of the child

• Offer choices and let them make decisions for themselves when more mature

What should limits be?

Questions to keep in mind when setting limits: Does the limit allow the child to learn and grow? Is the limit fair and appropriate for the child’s age? Does the limit benefit the child, or is it merely for

the adult’s convenience?

Limits should keep children from hurting themselves, other people, or property

Making limits clear

State limits briefly and clearlySetting limits include 4 steps:

Show understanding of the child’s desiresSet the limit and explain itAcknowledge the child’s feelingsGive alternatives

Dealing with inappropriate behavior

When responding to a child’s misbehaviors, ask yourself these questions: Is the expected behavior appropriate, given

the child’s development?Does the child understand that the behavior

is wrong?Was the behavior done knowingly and

deliberately, or was it beyond the child’s control?

Using punishment effectively

Punishment is negative reinforcement- a response aimed at discouraging a child from repeating a behavior

Make clear that the caregiver disapproves of the behavior

After a rule is broken, usually a warning is given. Punishment follows if rule is broken again.

Dealing with inappropriate behavior

Natural consequencesLoss of privelagesGiving time-out

Poor disciplinary measures

BribingMaking children promise to behaveShouting or yellingShaming or belittlingThreatening to withhold love

Handling Conflict

Use wordsSpeak calmlyCount to ten