1. Building Strong Families
Child Development

2. Objectives
Summarize the qualities that contribute to building strong families.
Describe the different family structures.
Discuss the trends affecting families.
List the basic categories of children’s needs.
Identify the three parenting styles.
Summarize effective ways to guide children’s behavior.

3. What qualities do strong families have? List
Family members work together to provide for the needs of the family and prepare the children to live in our society.
They spend time together, share responsibilities, and work together to resolve differences.
They listen to each other with an open mind and allow each person to express opinions and share feelings.
Families share goals and values and also show appreciation for each other.

4. Qualities of Strong Families
Families are the foundation on which every human culture is built.
All members should feel accepted and safe.
Families provide children with:
A sense of belonging
Emotional support
Nurturing
Protection
Security

5. Qualities of Strong Families
Form strong bonds and traditions
Give children lessons in values and acceptable social behavior

6. Functions of the Family
Meet basic needs:
Food
Shelter
Clothing
Emotional
Social
Intellectual
Health
Safety

7. Functions of the Family
Prepare Children to Live in Society
Values are passed on three ways:
Example
Communication
Religious training

8. Functions of the Family
Provide Support
Family members
Friends
Relatives
Coworkers
Family doctor
Counselor
Social worker
Religious advisor

9. Functions of the Family
Form Traditions
A tradition is a custom that is followed over time.
Friends will come and go through a lifetime, but your family is always there.

10. Traditions What traditions does your family have?
Celebration Traditions
Holidays
Birthdays
Family Traditions
Vacations
Patterned Family Interactions
Dinner time
Bedtime

11. Share Values
Values are the beliefs held by an individual, family, community or society.
Honesty
Respect
Responsibility
Friendliness
Kindness
Tolerance

12. Handle Family Conflict
There is no way around it: Families Argue!
Handling Conflicts Effectively:
Keep Cool
Be an Active Listener
Use Positive Body Language

13. Discussion
How would you rate your family’s conflict resolution skills?
Which technique could you use to improve your own?

14. Family Structure Nuclear Family Single-Parent Family Blended Family
Extended Family

15. Nuclear Family
A nuclear family is a family that includes a mother and father and at least one child.

16. Single-Parent Family
A single-parent family is one that includes either a mother or a father and at least one child.
Death
Divorce
A custodial parent is the parent with whom the child resides.

17. Blended Families
A blended family is formed when a single parent marries another person.
Becoming a strong family can be challenging.

18. Extended Families
An extended family is a family that includes a parent or parents, at least one child, and other relatives who live with them.

19. Joining a Family A biological child is born into a family.
A legal guardian is a person who is designated by a legal process into assume responsibility in raising a child.
A foster child is a child that comes from a troubled family or difficult circumstances and is placed in the temporary care of another person or family.

20. Trends Affecting Families
Mobility
Aging Population
Intergenerational means occurring between older and younger age groups.
Economic Changes
Workplace Changes
Technology

21. The Family Life Cycle 1. Couple Stage 2. Expanding Stage
3. Developing Stage
4. Launching Stage
5. Middle Stage
6. Retirement Stage

22. Stage 1: Couple Stage
Couples grow closer as they share activities. They work together to establish a home and marriage relationship.

23. Stage 2: Expanding Stage
The arrival of a child signals the beginning of parenthood. The couple prepares for and adjusts to parenthood.

24. Stage 3: Developing Stage
As children grow, parents work to meet children’s changing needs. The focus of the family is the socialization and developing independence of children

25. Stage 4: Launching Stage
Children gradually leave home to support themselves. Parents help their children adapt to life on their own. Events such as graduation signal the child’s independence.

26. Stage 5: Middle Stage
A couple renews their relationship and prepares for retirement. They may have time and money for special interests. If they had children who have left home, this is called the “empty nest” stage.

27. Stage 6: Retirement Stage
The couple stops full-time work and adjusts to having more free time. Life may be slower paced but couples still enjoy each other’s company.

28. English Language Arts (10 points)
Determine which family structure fits your family. Choose one of the other family structures. Write a one-page story about how your life would be different if you lived in the other family structure.

29. Children’s Needs
Children’s needs can be grouped into three categories:
1. Physical Needs
2. Emotional and Social Needs
3. Intellectual Needs
Deprivation – a lack of the critical needs and encouraging environment that are essential for physical, emotional and intellectual well-being.

30. Children’s Needs Physical Needs: Food, Clothing & Shelter
Emotional & Social Needs: Children feel safe, loved and cared for.
Intellectual Needs: Stimulation and the opportunity to become educated.

31. Parenting Styles
A parenting style is how parents and other caregivers care for and discipline children.
Three main styles:
1. Authoritarian
2. Assertive – Democratic
3. Permissive

32. Parenting Styles
Authoritarian – Parents believe children should obey their parents without question.
Assertive-Democratic – Children have more input into the rules and limits of home.
Certain amount of freedom and independence
Permissive – Parents give children a wide range of freedom.

33. Guide Children’s Behavior
Guidance means using firmness and understanding to help children learn how to behave.
Self-discipline is the ability to control one’s own behavior.
Conscience is an inner sense of what is right.

34. Be a Role Model
Parents and other people in a child’s life serve as role models.

35. Give Effective Direction
Be sure you have the child’s attention.
Be polite.
Use positive statements.
Use specific words that the child can understand.
Begin with an action verb.
Give a limited number of directions at a time.
Be clear.
Give praise and love.

36. Set Limits Does the limit allow the child to learn, explore and grow?
Is the limit fair and appropriate for the child’s age?
Does the limit benefit the child, or is it just for the adult’s convenience?

37. Provide Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is a response that encourages a particular behavior.
Guidelines:
Be specific.
Comment on the behavior as soon as possible.
Recognize small steps.
Help children take pride in their actions.
Tailor the encouragement to the needs of the child.
Use positive reinforcement wisely.

38. Dealing with Inappropriate Behavior
Questions to consider when deciding how to respond:
Is the expected behavior appropriate, given the child’s age and development?
Does the child understand that the behavior was wrong?
Did the child do the behavior knowingly and deliberately, or was it beyond the child’s control?

39. Negative Reinforcement
Negative reinforcement is a response aimed at strengthening desired behavior by removing an unpleasant trigger.
Natural consequences
Lose jacket: don’t replace it
Logical consequences
Color on wall: crayons taken away
Loss of privileges
Time-out – a short period of time in which a child sits away from other people and the center of activity.
Calm down and gain self-control

40. Poor Disciplinary Measures
Bribing
Making Children Promise to Behave
Shouting or Yelling
Shaming or Belittling
Threatening to Withhold Love
Exaggerated Consequences

41. Consistency in Guidance
Being consistent, or continually the same, is the key to guiding children’s behavior.

42. Expert Advice…
“For a parent, it’s hard to recognize the significance of your work when you’re immersed in the mundane details. But…few jobs in the world of paychecks and promotions compare in significance to the job of a parent.”
Joyce Maynard, author, A Mother’s Day

43. English Language Arts (10 points)
Think back to your own childhood and the parenting styles used in your home. Which style or styles were used? Do you think they were effective? Why or why not? Would you use the same parenting style with your children?