Unit 5 - Positively Guiding Children and Resources and Policies Chapter 18 - Family Concerns AND Chapter 19 - Family Crises Parents and Their Children

Balancing Family and Work Must balance Must work to supply income to meet family needs Working a necessity, not an option Managing responsibilities can be challenging

Single parent family - one must take on all responsibilities –only source of income –only adult responsible for providing care –stressful for all

Dual-career families –two people share responsibilities –able to divide responsibilities –must juggle two schedules

Reasons Parents Work Provide financially for family Gain personal satisfaction from job Important part of their identity Personal growth Develop new skills Meet new people

Benefits of working parents Research indicates: –children of dual-career families are more independent and achievement oriented –children are more social Stay-at-home parents –may stifle children’s attempts at independence

Divorce Children view as break-up of family - end of the world frightening tell children as soon as decision has been made –time to adjust –truthfully explain

Tell children together Reinforce that child is still loved and that parents can work together as parents No not lie to children Explain that have tried everything and this is the final decision Explain it is NOT the children’s fault

Watch for: Regressive behavior Feelings of guilt Infants and toddlers –May not remember much –Must adjust if “new” parent joins family

Preschoolers –Often quite upset –Cannot understand how parent can love them and not be with them –Will think they caused the divorce –React with helplessness, grief, and fear –Bed-wetting, thumb-sucking, and whining may surface

School-Age children –May be better able to cope with changes –May want to talk –May blame selves –May pit one parent against the other

Teens –May show more pain than other aged children –May damage their self-esteem –May take sides and fight against one parent –May withdraw –May rebel - skipping school, stealing, drinking, using drugs –May be embarrassed

Crisis An unforeseen situation that demands adjustment by all members of a family Occur at one time or another within all families Strong families help one another through

Dysfunctional family- cannot function properly –needs of family members cannot be met –parents cannot function to care for and nurture children –interactions between family members not healthy

Crises Unemployment and Financial Crises –May not be able to pay bills –May not be able to buy essentials –Teens may help with financial needs of family if they have a job –Community resources may be needed –Often temporary situation, require adjustment and cooperation of all family members

Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse –condition in which a person’s drinking cause the person to hurt him/herself and others –damage the body –damages family members ability to function –usually begins during teen years

Deny problem Family must face the problem May need professional help Entire family attend counseling Addictions have no cure!

Child Abuse and Neglect Child Abuse –a non-accidental injury or pattern of injuries to a child; damage to a child for which there is no reasonable explanation - physical, sexual, and emotional Child Neglect –failing to provide basic needs of children

Physical Abuse intentional infliction of physical injury upon a child hitting, biting, beating, shaking, pushing, kicking adult uses physical force to punish or hurt the child

Emotional Abuse use of words to belittle, threaten or exert control over another person humiliation, name-calling, or other belittling remarks meant to hurt self-esteem of person

Sexual Abuse Forcing a child to engage in or witness sexual activities Incest - sexual activity with a family member –most often between fathers and daughters –occurs when very young

Physical Neglect failure to provide sufficient food, clothing, shelter, guidance, medical care, education, and supervision for a child can often be observed failure to protect child from abuse

Emotional Neglect failure to provide love and affection may receive good physical care, but still be neglected emotionally caring for, holding, touching stimulates brain growth difficult to prove, but it does occur

Gangs, Bullies, & Peer Violence Peer violence –violence directed at a person by someone of same peer group Bullying –one or more people inflicting physical, emotional or verbal abuse on another person

Gangs –groups of bullies who seek to inflict power through physical means –set up territorial restrictions and codes –wear identifiable clothing to designate membership Bullies and Gangs may seem strong, but actually need help

Not receiving enough care and love, discipline, and structure at home may be abused or neglected by their parents come from every ethnic and economic group lack problem-solving skills and solve conflicts with violence

Missing Children Runaways –over 450,000 run away from home every year –run because of family problems, leave abusive homes, don’t get along with parents, seeking independence –families live in constant fear –several local and national agencies to help runaways

Suicide 9th leading cause of death in U.S. people ages most likely to commit suicide way to end problems leave family and friends wondering why, shock, anger, sadness, fear, and uncertainty

Rate among year olds is especially high 3rd leading cause of death for this age group over 2,000 teens commit suicide annually for every successful suicide, 25 others have attempted

Risk factors emotional problems substance abuse feeling isolated or hopeless family violence family history depression

change in well-being or loss of self-esteem loss of important relationship death of a loved one

Preventing Suicide Act quickly TALK to the person LISTEN to what is said or what they are trying to say Seek professional help –private and group counseling services available