Responsible Parenting

Parenting Myths and RealitiesGood parenting comes naturally

MythHaving a baby doesn’t have to change a

person’s life.Myth

Having children doesn’t cost much.Myth

Children can make up for whatever is missing in a person’s life.Myth

Real ParentingThe truth about parenting is new babies

rule…everything you do.Like…

Parenting RewardsYouthful PerspectiveEmotional FulfillmentPersonal GrowthSense of PrideFamily Continuation

Parenting ResponsibilitiesPsychologist Abraham Maslow believed

children’s development is affected by how well their needs are met. Maslow theorized that each person has needs that must be met in a certain order, moving from the most basic to the most complex.

Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Activity- Create your own In groups of 3-4 you will create a pyramid to

represent the 5 needs with words and pictures from magazines.

How else are we responsible parents?Nurturing-helping a child reach their full

potential.Protecting- keeping them safeTeaching- you’re the child’s first teacherGuiding- values, compassion, honesty,

kindness to others, and respect.

Legal Rights and Responsibilitiesthe right to custody and control over your

child; the right to cooperation and obedience from

your child; the right to your child's earnings; and the right to sue if someone wrongfully injures

or kills your child.

What do these rights actually mean, for me as a parent?

1. The right to custody and control over your child essentially means that as a parent you can make the important decisions about your child's life. That is you, as a parent, can decide: where your child will live, with whom he or she will live, what he or she will do from day to day, what school he or she will attend, when he or she needs medical care, and what, if any, religion he or she will practice. NOTE: The court maintains the right to stop you from changing the residence of a child if the removal would prejudice the rights or welfare of the child.

What do these rights actually mean, for me as a parent?2. The right to cooperation and obedience from

your child entitles you to just that: cooperation and obedience. This right translates into the right to discipline your child in a non-abusive and non-neglectful manner. NOTE: Your child does not have to obey you if you have ordered him or her to do something that is dangerous or illegal. In fact, if you have encouraged your child to commit dangerous or illegal acts you may be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, child abuse, or neglect.

What do these rights actually mean, for me as a parent?

3. The right to your child's earnings means that you as a parent can legally collect and keep the money that your child earns. However, there are limitations on this right. Your child's earnings will not be entirely available to you in the following circumstances: if you have exploited, neglected, or abandoned your child; if your child's income is the result of his or her special talent

or athletic ability; or if your child's income is the result of a gift or inheritance. Furthermore, most parents allow their children to keep the

money that they have earned. 4. The right to sue if someone wrongfully injures or kills your

child enables you to recover costs such as medical and funeral expenses, as well as lost earnings, lost companionship, and pain and suffering in the event of your child's death or injury.

Do my rights and authority as a parent ever cease? Yes. Your legal rights and authority as a parent when your child

reaches the age of majority (that is, 18). In addition, your rights and authority as a parent can be suspended or terminated in any of the following situations:

The court appoints a guardian of the person over your child; Your child gets married; The court suspends or terminates your parental rights due to

abuse or abandonment of your child; Your child is made a ward of the juvenile delinquency court; Your child has been emancipated by the court; or Your child enlists in the military. Emancipated: Person younger than 18 is freed from parental

controls and support legally.Married, financially independent, or part of the armed forces

Child Abuse and NeglectChild Abuse: intentional or neglectful

physical, emotional, or sexual injury to a child.

Physical abuse includes non-accidental injuries, such as bruises, burns, and broken bones.

Emotional abuse includes severe rejection, loss of affection, and humiliation. It also includes actions to produce fear or extreme guilt in a child.

Sexual abuse of a child includes any sexual act between a child and an adult.

Child Abuse and NeglectChild Neglect: is failure to meet a child’s

basic physical needs. (Inadequate food, leaving alone, inappropriate clothing etc.)

Many children suffer from both abuse and neglect.

Child Abuse and NeglectChildren ages birth to three years have the

highest rates of victimization.Many children die due to abuse or neglect.

Most are younger than four years old.Those responsible for child abuse and neglect

are often parents.Siblings and other family members can also

be abusers.

Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities

Fatalities Due to Abuse4 children die per day in the U.S. due to

abuse.3 out of 4 of those children are under 3 years

old.

How Do These Deaths Occur?Fatal child abuse may involve repeated abuse

over a period of time (e.g., battered child syndrome), or it may involve a single, impulsive incident (e.g., drowning, suffocating, or shaking a baby). In cases of fatal neglect, the child's death results not from anything the caregiver does, but from a caregiver's failure to act. The neglect may be chronic (e.g., extended malnourishment) or acute (e.g., an infant who drowns after being left unsupervised in the bathtub).

Who Are the Perpetrators?No matter how the fatal abuse occurs, one

fact of great concern is that the perpetrators are, by definition, individuals responsible for the care and supervision of their victims. In 2006, one or both parents were responsible for 75.9 percent of child abuse or neglect fatalities. Approximately 15 (14.7) percent of fatalities were the result of maltreatment by nonparent caretakers, and the remaining percentage (9.5 percent) represents unknown or missing information.

Reporting Child AbuseReporting Child Abuse, Call 800-932-0313The ChildLine and Abuse Registry Intake Unit (800-932-0313) is

available 24 hours to receive reports of suspected child abuse.Professionals who come into contact with children are required to

report when they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child under the care, supervision, guidance or training of that person or of their agency, institution or organization is an abused child.

In addition, any person may report suspected abuse, even if the individual wishes to remain anonymous.

Each call is answered by a trained intake specialist who will interview the caller to determine the most appropriate course of action. Actions include forwarding a report to a county agency for investigation as child abuse or general protective services, forwarding a report directly to law enforcement officials or refer the caller to local social services (such as counseling, financial aid, and legal services).

Sad but true…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWow42T

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ClearancesYou need to have your child abuse clearance

to work with children in a professional atmosphere. (Preschool, Teacher, Nurses, Doctors, Childcare Workers, Childcare Directors, etc.)

Costs $10.00, and is valid for one year.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/05/20/business/childofrecession/main5029133.shtml