What is parenting?

Parenting - is the process of caring for children and helping them grow and learn. It involves a variety of different skills.

3 MAIN CATEGORIES OF PARENTING SKILLS 1) PHYSICAL CARE – THIS IS PROVIDING A CHILD WITH FOOD, CLOTHING, EXERCISE, REST AND A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE

2) NURTURING – THIS SKILL IS TO PROVIDE A CHILD WITH LOVE, SUPPORT, ATTENTION, ENCOURAGEMENT AND MAKE THEM FEEL APPRECIATED. 3) GUIDANCE – THIS SKILL REQUIRES YOU TO TEACH A CHILD THE VALUES OF RIGHT AND WRONG. TEACH THEM THE EXPECTATIONS OF SOCIETY.

TYPES OF PARENTS 1) BIOLOGICAL PARENTS- THIS IS THE MAN AND WOMAN THAT CONCEIVE THE CHILD. 2) STEPPARENT – MARRYING SOMEONE WHO HAS CHILDREN OR BOTH SPOUSES HAVE CHILDREN FROM PREVIOUS RELATIONSHIPS.

3) ADOPTION – THIS IS A LEGAL PROCESS WHEREBY A CHILD THAT IS NOT THE BIOLOGICAL CHILD OF A PERSON IS BROUGHT INTO A FAMILY AND IS NOW CONSIDERED BY LAW TO BE PART OF THAT FAMILY. 4) FOSTER PARENT – SOMEONE WHO ASSUMES TEMPORARY LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR A CHILD THAT HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THEIR OWN HOME.

5) GUARDIAN – THIS IS SOMEONE THAT IS APPOINTED BY THE COURT TO CARE FOR A CHILD USUALLY UNTIL THE CHILD BECOMES OF AGE. 6) CAREGIVER – USED TO REFER TO SOMEONE WHO CARES FOR A CHILD WHETHER LONG- TERM OR SHORT-TERM. EXAMPLE: BABYSITTER, CHILD CARE WORKERS

CHANGES IN PARENTING ROLES THERE HAVE BEEN MANY CHANGES IN THE ROLES OF PARENTS OVER THE PAST YEARS. WOMEN WERE SEEN AS THE CAREGIVERS AND THAT ROLE HAS CHANGED AS MANY FATHERS ARE NOW STEPPING INTO THAT ROLE.

PARENTING STYLES AND ABILITIES THERE ARE MANY FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE HOW A FAMILY CHOOSES THEIR PARENTING STYLE. 1) THEIR OWN UPBRINGING 2) CULTURE 3) EXPERIENCES 4) THEIR LIFESTYLES 5) THE WAY SOCIETY AT THE TIME IS VIEWING PARENTING

CHANGES BROUGHT ON BY PARENTHOOD 1) One of the biggest changes is being responsible for another human being. A baby is totally dependent on you for all their needs. Raising a child is a lifelong commitment.

2) Another big adjustment is the day-to-day living 2) Another big adjustment is the day-to-day living. It requires an enormous amount of time to care for a baby. Your schedule will change because you will be up at all hours caring and feeding a newborn.

3) Lifestyle changes occur when a parent quits working outside the home to care for the new baby. You are not able to come and go as you once did. No more running to the movies or to a party because you have a baby to care for and nurture.

4) Emotional adjustments are also sometimes overwhelming 4) Emotional adjustments are also sometimes overwhelming. You have anxiety about how to care for the baby. You have fear of not being a good parent. Jealousy over the attention the baby is getting. Sometimes depression and frustration from being home all day.

5) Changes in relationships occur with a baby 5) Changes in relationships occur with a baby. A couple’s relationship changes because now they have to share their love and attention with a new family member. Sometimes anger and frustration end up being taken out on a spouse.

6) Extended family now has a new role also as grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. These roles may take some adjustments. Grandparents tend to try and give lots of advice that may not be wanted by the new parents.

REWARDS OF BEING A PARENT There are many rewards of becoming a parent. You get to experience the fun and excitement of children. New feelings of happiness and joy, pride, and love that are different from these feelings before. It is described as the most wonderful and important experience in someone’s life. Gives a parent a sense of accomplishment.

DECIDING TO BECOME A PARENT Deciding to become a parent is probably one of the biggest decisions you will ever make. It is not only important to you but to the child you are bringing into this world.

5 IMPORTANT POINTS TO CONSIDER ON WHETHER OR NOT TO HAVE CHILDREN 1) EMOTIONAL MATURITY – this means are you responsible enough to put someone else’s needs before your own. Are you mature enough to not expect any attention from your infant even though you are devoting all your time and attention to them.

2) DESIRE FOR PARENTHOOD – do you really want to be a parent and carry that responsibility for the rest of your life?

3) HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS – Make sure that as a prospective parent that you are in good health. Check to make sure there are no inherited disorders in your family.

4) MANAGEMENT SKILLS – as parents you need to look at your families needs and wants and set a plan in action to reach these goals. Parents should be the leaders in their family setting the values and standards their family will abide by.

5) FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS – although not a necessity as parents you need to consider the financial responsibility of raising a child. It is an added expense to have a child and if one parent stays home then a loss of income is now a consideration.

TEEN PARENTS Teen pregnancy has been on the rise as 1 in 10 girls are mothers before their 18th birthday. Teen parents are starting off with several strikes against them as you can tell from the previous slides.

Teen parents carry a high risk of health problems. Teen parents cannot afford to support themselves and a child. Teens have a tendency of not thinking things through before becoming parents and reality is usually quite different from their expectations.

Parenting requires lots of patience and giving and many teens are not prepared to assume this role. Many young woman feel that a baby will fill an emptiness that they have and at least someone will love them, however a newborn’s emotional and physical needs are more than their own and they are overwhelmed.

IN CONCLUSION AS YOU CAN SEE PARENTHOOD IS A BIG RESPONSIBILITY AND SHOULD NOT BE ENTERED INTO WITHOUT CAREFUL CONSIDERATION. IF THIS OCCURS AS AN UNPLANNED EVENT THEN THE PARENTS SHOULD MAKE PREPARATIONS BY READING AND STUDYING HOW TO BE A GOOD PARENT SO THAT THEY ARE NOT TAKEN BY SURPRISE AT HOW MUCH TIME AND ENERGY A NEWBORN REQUIRES.