Considerations of Parenthood Effective Parenting Skills Chapter 2, section 1

§Parenting—caring for children and helping them grow and develop §Sometimes you have to let them try things on their own, even if that means they fail §Parenting skills needed will change as the children change §Parents need to decide when to encourage children to try new things

Effective Parenting Skills To improve your parenting skills: §ask advice of others who are good parents §read books and magazine articles about parenting §observe others who are good parents §attend parenting classes §gain experience with children

Changes Parenthood Brings §New responsibilities §Changes in lifestyle §Emotional Adjustments l Fear l Jealousy l Frustration l Worry l depression §Changes in relationships §The rewards of parenthood

Making Decisions about Parenthood §Emotional Maturity §Desire for Parenthood §Health considerations §Financial Considerations §Management Skills l Set goals l Identify resources l Make a plan l Put the plan into action l Re evaluate from time to time

§Start of section 3-1

Chapter 3 §Bellwork: List things your family does for you

Functions of the family §Meeting basic needs (give an example of each) l Physical l Social l Intellectual l Moral l Use example, religious training, and communication

Family structures (define each): §Nuclear §Single parent §Blended §Extended §foster

Family Life Cycle (give one example of a typical concern for each stage): §Beginning §Parental stage 1 §Parental stage 2 §Parental stage 3 §Middle age §Retirement

Trends affecting families §Mobility §Aging population §Economic changes §Workplace changes §Technology

Building Strong Families §Forming traditions l Celebration traditions l Family traditions l Patterned family interactions §Shared values §Handling family conflict l Keep cool l Be an active listener l Use positive body language

§Start of section 3-2

Parents should try to: §Meet needs in all areas §Understand children §provide enrichment and encouragement deprivation--when children suffer from the lack of a healthy, nurturing envrionment §Provide love and support §overparenting--being too overprotective and overattentive

Parenting Styles §Authoritarian §Assertive-Democratic §Permissive

Understanding Discipline §Discipline--helping children to learn to behave in acceptable ways §Conscience--an inner sense of what is right and wrong §self-discipline--the ability to control one’s own behavior §Guidance—using firmness and understanding to help children learn how to behave §Effective guidance helps children to develop a conscience and self-discipline

August 31 §Bellwork: §Most of us have thought about what types of parents we want to become. Describe what type of parent you would like to be in a minimum of six sentences.

Guiding behavior §Be a good role model §Set limits §Use positive reinforcement—p. 92 for tips

Communicating Positively §Get on the child’s level §Be simple §Be clear §Be positive and polite §Give praise and love

Encouraging Appropriate Behavior §Set a good example §Tell them what is expected §Offer Choices §Praise appropriate behavior l Be specific l Be sincere and positive l Give the praise as soon as possible l Tailor the praise to the needs of the child

Setting Limits §The limit should allow the child to learn without too much restriction §It should be fair and appropriate for the child’s age §It should benefit the child and not be just for the adult’s convenience §Set the limit and explain it §acknowledge the child’s feelings §be understanding of the child’s desires §Give alternatives

Dealing with Inappropriate Behavior §Negative reinforcement--a response that tends to discourage a particular behavior from being repeated §Natural consequences §Loss of privileges §Ignoring §Time out--a short period of time during which the child sits away from the presence of others or from the center of activity

Poor Disciplinary Measures §Bribing §making children promise to behave §Shouting or yelling §Shaming or belittling §Threatening to withhold love

CONSISTENCY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ANY DISCIPLINE TO WORK!!