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.

The Goal of Parenting Parenting is the process of raising a child. It begins with the birth or adoption of a child and lasts a lifetime. © Thomas M Perkins/Shutterstock.com continued

The Goal of Parenting The primary goal of parenting is to help children grow and become mature, independent individuals who can make their own decisions and accept responsibility for their actions. There is no step-by-step guide for parenting since each child and each situation is unique.

Helping Children Grow Up Responsibly Difficult tasks for parents teaching children values and standards letting children have new experiences recognizing the importance of others in children’s lives

Teaching Values and Standards Parents must have firmly established values and standards of their own live a lifestyle that reflects their beliefs Then children can follow their examples and adopt similar values and standards.

Letting Children Learn Through New Experiences Parents must let children learn by doing things for themselves. © Darren Baker/Shutterstock.com

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 about their children see this as a sign of growth. Parents with a less healthy attitude may feel threatened by the loss of their children’s attention.

The Challenges of Parenting Parenting requires commitments of time, energy, patience, and money. © Oleg Kozlov/Shutterstock.com

Teen Parenting Parenting during the teenage years is especially difficult. Teens face several parenting challenges: physical emotional social education career

Physical Challenges Pregnant teenagers are more likely to suffer from pregnancy-related illnesses, have poor nutrition, and lack medical care. © Paul Vasarhelyi /Shutterstock.com continued

Physical Challenges Preventable health risks for the baby include low birthweight, caused by poor diet and smoking during pregnancy neural tube defects (NTDs), caused by lack of folate-rich foods before and during pregnancy fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy

Emotional Challenges Many teenage marriages occur when a young woman becomes pregnant. These marriages have a fairly high divorce rate. The addition of a child increases the emotional and financial pressure on young couples.

Social Challenges Having limited opportunities to socialize with friends can cause teenage parents to feel frustrated and angry. © Velychko/Shutterstock.com

Education and Career Many teenage parents drop out of high school and are limited to low-paying jobs. Economic consequences for teenage parents and their children often include reliance on government aid programs financial dependence on family members poverty

Think Further Make a list of the types of expenses involved in raising a child to age 18. © averole/Shutterstock.com

The Children of Teen Parents Compared with children of older parents, children of teenagers are subject to more health risks academic risks emotional risks social risks economic insecurity low-quality child care neglect and abuse

Did You Know? Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Deciding Whether to Have Children One of the most important decisions a couple will make together is whether to have children. © Patrizia Tilly/Shutterstock.com

Reasons for Having Children To bond closer with a spouse by sharing the experience of rearing a child To have a family lifestyle To have the special experiences of life that children make possible To fulfill role expectations

Reasons for Not Having Children Personal freedom of a childless lifestyle Career concerns Financial concerns Unhappy childhood or fear of rearing a child © Stuart Miles/Shutterstock.com

Other Factors Affecting Parenthood Decisions Couples should also discuss their short- and long-term goals the strength of their relationship and whether they are ready to accept the roles of parents their readiness for children Couples should not feel obligated to have children to satisfy their friends and relatives. They should not feel selfish if they decide to remain childless.

Section 9-1 Review True or false. If a child cannot do a task perfectly, a parent should do it. Why do teenage parents often face financial difficulties? continued

Section 9-1 Review List three reasons why couples choose to not have children.

Being a Responsible Caregiver 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.

Who Are the Caregivers? A caregiver is a person who provides care for someone else. Many people may fill the role of caregiver relatives (older siblings, grandparents) babysitters child care providers preschool teachers guardians and foster parents Parents are a child’s primary caregivers. continued

Who Are the Caregivers? Sometimes the role of caregiver is more informal. Example: a neighbor may invite a child to go on an outing. © Pressmaster/Shutterstock.com

Think Further Have you ever been responsible for the care of a child? If so, what were your responsibilities? © rSnapshotPhotos/Shutterstock.com

Characteristics of Responsible Caregivers Everyone is not equally qualified to be a caregiver. The characteristics of responsible caregivers fall into four categories: personal qualities personal skills knowledge and experience good health

Personal Qualities Enjoy children Patient Flexible Alert to children’s needs Exercise self-control Consistent Set good examples

Personal Skills Communication skills speak clearly and simply use positive statements communicate well with other adults © bikeriderlondon/Shutterstock.com continued

Personal Skills Judgment skills Caregivers make many decisions each day involving children in their care. To help settle conflicts, they need to know when and how to get involved. To maintain a healthful, safe environment, they need to be able to foresee and prevent problems. continued

Personal Skills Management skills Caregivers need basic time management skills. They need to know how to set priorities, or distinguish between important and urgent matters.

Knowledge and Experience All caregivers should have a basic knowledge of child growth and development children’s needs, abilities, and interests appropriate activities Experience is gained by interacting with children, reading books, and taking classes.

Good Health Good health allows caregivers to function to the best of their ability. © kurhan/Shutterstock.com continued

Good Health Caring for children is demanding and requires continuous physical activity mental alertness to a child’s needs ability to cope with stress and emotional pressures of meeting responsibilities To stay healthy, caregivers need proper nutrition enough rest and exercise regular immunizations

Responsibilities of Caregivers Parents and other caregivers are responsible for meeting children’s many needs including physical needs social needs emotional needs intellectual needs

Physical Needs Food Clothing Shelter Medical care Health and safety © Artem Efimov/Shutterstock.com

Social Needs Children must be taught how to interact with other children and adults—how to share, communicate, and compromise. Children also need moral guidance to learn right from wrong to learn how to behave in socially acceptable ways

Emotional Needs Caregivers need to set limits, love, and guide children. Children need to feel loved no matter what they do learn how to express emotions in acceptable ways grow to become independent adults

Intellectual Needs Caregivers must provide children with opportunities that will help them grow and learn. © oliveromg/Shutterstock.com

Resources for Caregivers How to learn about being a responsible caregiver: local library reliable websites public and private agencies hotlines (phone numbers that people can call for information or assistance) support groups

Employment Opportunities for Caregivers There is a growing demand for quality caregivers, especially for dual-career and single-parent families. continued © Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com

Employment Opportunities for Caregivers As a minimum, a two-year associate’s degree in child development or a related area is often required. Child care workers must meet state licensing requirements to work with young children. To be licensed, workers in child care facilities must meet educational requirements. Licensing requirements vary from state to state. continued

Employment Opportunities for Caregivers There are several types of child care programs: child care in the parent’s home child care in the caregiver’s home child care cooperatives school- or university-based child care religious or social group government sponsored employer sponsored privately owned or franchise

Child Care in the Parent’s Home The caregiver comes to the parent’s home and is often a relative or close friend. Benefits convenience children feel more secure in a familiar setting children receive individualized attention consistent care © Rob Marmion/Shutterstock.com continued

Child Care in the Parent’s Home Child care in the parent’s home may be provided by a nanny. Some nannies also do household chores. Nannies are often costly. Nannies who live with a family receive room and board plus a salary.

Child Care in the Caregiver’s Home The most common type of child care in the United States has been child care in the caregiver’s home. Benefits family-type setting less structure allows for play and relaxation hours are usually flexible less costly than some other options

Child Care Cooperatives Child care cooperatives are formed by groups of parents. Parents formulate policy establish the budget determine the instructional program provide care for the children hire teachers or other personnel continued

Child Care Cooperatives Benefits Parents have more control over the program. It is less costly; instead of paying a fee, parents take turns caring for children in the center. Parents must be more involved and volunteer their time.

School- or University-Sponsored Child Care These programs use student teachers to provide child care. Benefits high-quality staff high-quality curriculum These programs are not available in all areas.

Religious or Social Group Programs Some child care programs are sponsored by religious or social groups. continued

Religious or Social Group Programs Benefits usually charge low fees because the sponsor helps fund the costs and provides space usually high-quality programs many provide religious education, which is important to some parents

Government-Sponsored Child Care Programs Programs are sponsored by the government for lower-income working families. The benefit is very low or no fees. Programs must meet strict guidelines to be licensed.

Employer-Sponsored Child Care Services Employers sponsor different types of child care facilities. Benefits Employers may pay all or part of the cost. Employees whose children are cared for on-site are close at hand if needed.

Privately Owned or Franchised Child Care Centers These facilities are privately owned businesses. Franchised child care centers offer uniform facilities, equipment, and programs at each franchise. © ChiccoDodiFC/Shutterstock.com

Think Further Research the types of child care available in your community. What are the costs of each option? © Elnur/Shutterstock.com

Evaluating Quality Child Care Evaluating each child care program is important. Parents must evaluate the facility setting programs adult-child ratio caregivers

The Role of Society in Protecting Children’s Rights All caregivers are responsible for the well-being of the children in their care. If parents do not meet their children’s needs, the state can act on the children’s behalf. In extreme cases, the state provides foster care for children needing temporary homes. continued

The Role of Society in Protecting Children’s Rights Laws protect children’s rights. Laws require school attendance. Child labor laws protect children. The state or government provides child welfare services food and assistance to families in need

Section 9-2 Review List five personal qualities of responsible caregivers. List the four categories of children’s needs. continued

Section 9-2 Review Identify five types of child care programs. (List five:) child care in the parent’s home, child care in the caregiver’s home, child care cooperatives, school- or university-sponsored, religious, social group, government, employer, privately owned or franchised Give an example of how society protects children. (Answers will vary.)