1. Responsibilities of Parenting

2.  At your table groups:  Create a T-chart listing the rewards and responsibilities of parenting  Look in textbook at Galinsky’s Stages of Parenthood (pg.38)  For each stage place yourselves in the role of a parent!  Once finished wait for further instruction

3.  Being a parent is one of the most important roles a person has in life.  Parenting is the process of caring for children and helping them grow and develop  Parents need to know when to help and when to let children try a task on their own  Parents must decide when to encourage children to try different activities  Allow children to have freedom to explore  Skills needed by parents will change as children get older

4.  Having Reasonable Expectations  First step in effective parenting  Parenthood Readiness  Emotional maturity  Being responsible enough to consistently put someone else’s needs before your own needs.  Health considerations  Important to get medical checkups  Financial concerns  Should have finances for next year  Managing personal resources  Children deserve to be born to parents who are ready for parenthood

5. Preparation for Parenthood Raising a child is expensive, so managing resources wisely is important for families. There are many ways to learn parenting skills. Parents develop in stages as their children develop.

6.  What are some financial obligations that accompany parenthood  Consider things like health and medical care, food and nutrition, child care, housing and furnishings, clothing needs, entertainment, transportation  Make sure to consider needs of both the parents and child

7.  Parents need to wisely use the resources they have available to provide for their families  Money is just one resource. Time, skills and energy are others.  There are 5 Key Steps to good resource management

8. 1. Set goals  Decide what is important and turn those things into personal goals 2. Identify resources  Make a list of the resources needed to achieve the goal 3. Make a plan  Decide how to use the identified resources to achieve the desired goal 4. Put the plan into action  Start working toward the goals using the steps outlined in the plan 5. Re-evaluate from time to time  Step back and take stock of progress  Are more or different resources needed? Was the goal achieved? What are some new goals to work toward?

10.  Ways to build parenting skills  Read reliable books, magazine articles, and online information about parenting  Gain experience working with or caring for children, informally or as a job  Ask the advice of family and friends who have parenting experience  Observe parents and children whenever and wherever possible  Hospitals, schools, community groups, and private instructors offer courses or workshops on parenting skills

11. Galinsky’s Stages of Parenthood Time PeriodParents’ TasksStage

12. Parenting Responsibilities and Rewards Caring for a child takes a huge amount of time and energy. Parenthood requires many emotional adjustments.

13.  Can no longer think of only their own needs  Less time for self  Consider child’s needs first  Children need physical care, financial support, love and guidance

14.  Lifestyle change  Lots of time and energy  Newborns few every few hours  Less time with friends  Emotional adjustments  Fear of not being good parent  Frustration at loss of personal freedom  Worry over money matters  Depression  Relationship changes  Important for couple to communicate effectively  New baby changes relationship with partner as well as with own parents  Employment adjustments  Parents may have to cut back on hours or stop working  Change careers to accommodate  Legal responsibilities  Provide food, shelter, clothing, medical care, an education, and legal help for their children

15.  First milestones  First smile  First time says ‘momma’ or ‘dada’  Parents feel happiness, pride, and love that they have never felt before  By helping child discover the world, parents often see it with new eyes themselves  Sense of accomplishment