Preparing for ChildrenPreparing for Children

Chapter 5Chapter 5

The Goal of ParentingThe Goal of Parenting

Primary goal-to help children grow Primary goal-to help children grow and become mature, independent and become mature, independent individuals who can make their own individuals who can make their own decisions and accept responsibility decisions and accept responsibility for their actions.for their actions.

1. Helping children grow up 1. Helping children grow up responsiblyresponsibly

Teaching personal priorities and standardsTeaching personal priorities and standards how to evaluate the importance of something how to evaluate the importance of something living a lifestyle that reflects their beliefsliving a lifestyle that reflects their beliefs

Letting children learn through new Letting children learn through new experiencesexperiences

allow the child to ‘do it myself’ even if not done allow the child to ‘do it myself’ even if not done perfectperfect

allow the child to learn how to do itallow the child to learn how to do it

Recognizing the importance of other Recognizing the importance of other people in children’s livespeople in children’s lives

helps children grow up responsiblyhelps children grow up responsibly as children grow, they want and need to as children grow, they want and need to

meet many different peoplemeet many different people is a positive mark of growth, not jealous is a positive mark of growth, not jealous

about loss of child’s attentionabout loss of child’s attention

The Challenges of The Challenges of Parenting-Parenting-

Involves commitments of love, time, Involves commitments of love, time, energy, patience, and money.energy, patience, and money.

1. Parenting is an expression 1. Parenting is an expression of loveof love

a. having a child is a way of fulfilling a. having a child is a way of fulfilling the deep love a couple has for one the deep love a couple has for one anotheranother i. creating an atmosphere of love and i. creating an atmosphere of love and

acceptance is important to child’s acceptance is important to child’s emotional development emotional development

ii. showing love and affection to one ii. showing love and affection to one another and to child lays the foundation another and to child lays the foundation for self-esteem and trustfor self-esteem and trust

Parenting involves Parenting involves commitments of time commitments of time

and energyand energy

babies have to be fed, bathed, and babies have to be fed, bathed, and clothedclothed

cries have to be answered, even in the cries have to be answered, even in the middle of the nightmiddle of the night

Parenting requires patienceParenting requires patience

children ask a lot of questionschildren ask a lot of questions normal type of behaviornormal type of behavior

Parenting involves a major Parenting involves a major financial commitment financial commitment

costs for clothing, furniture, and toys costs for clothing, furniture, and toys housing, food, transportation, medical housing, food, transportation, medical

care, and recreation become major care, and recreation become major expensesexpenses

education costs can be greateducation costs can be great consideration of the loss of one spouse’s consideration of the loss of one spouse’s

income when one parent gives up a job to income when one parent gives up a job to stay home and care for the childstay home and care for the child

child care may then be an expensechild care may then be an expense

Teen Parenting Teen Parenting

Many teens are not prepared to Many teens are not prepared to face the physical, emotional, social, face the physical, emotional, social, and financial challenges of and financial challenges of parenthood.parenthood.

1. Physical risks1. Physical risks A. a lack of medical care or poor nutrition A. a lack of medical care or poor nutrition

duringduring B. pregnancy puts mother and child at riskB. pregnancy puts mother and child at risk C. illnesses and complications more C. illnesses and complications more

commoncommon D. own bodies may still be developingD. own bodies may still be developing E. they have higher risks of having E. they have higher risks of having

premature, low-birth weight babiespremature, low-birth weight babies F. infant death rate is also higherF. infant death rate is also higher G. mother’s age makes a difference in G. mother’s age makes a difference in

pregnancy; best childbearing years for pregnancy; best childbearing years for women are from ages 20-32 women are from ages 20-32

2. Emotional Challenges2. Emotional Challenges

A. Teenage marriages that occur out of A. Teenage marriages that occur out of pregnancy have a fairly high divorce pregnancy have a fairly high divorce rate. (teens are still growing rate. (teens are still growing themselves)themselves)

B. Teen parents must cope with sudden B. Teen parents must cope with sudden changes in their role from adolescents changes in their role from adolescents to parents.to parents.

C. Parent-child roles are often C. Parent-child roles are often conflicting…you have to be a parent to conflicting…you have to be a parent to a child while you are still a child to a child while you are still a child to your parents.your parents.

3. Social Changes3. Social Changes

A. A baby greatly hinders teen parents’ A. A baby greatly hinders teen parents’ social life.social life.

B. Working and child-care responsibilities B. Working and child-care responsibilities mean they are less likely to experience mean they are less likely to experience a normal social life with friends their a normal social life with friends their age.age.

4. Financial Challenges4. Financial Challenges

Many lack stable financial resources (secure Many lack stable financial resources (secure job).job).

Many drop out of school and have low paying Many drop out of school and have low paying jobs.jobs.

If don’t marry, father is separated from his If don’t marry, father is separated from his child and may not offer financial help.child and may not offer financial help.

Many resort to federal aid programs for Many resort to federal aid programs for financial support.financial support.

Many states have laws requiring fathers to Many states have laws requiring fathers to support their children.support their children.

5. Education and Career5. Education and Career

A. Since some teens drop out of school in A. Since some teens drop out of school in order to work and then find it difficult order to work and then find it difficult to obtain good-paying jobs.to obtain good-paying jobs.

B. Not only do teens suffer from B. Not only do teens suffer from economic consequences, but their economic consequences, but their children suffer also.children suffer also.

6. The Children of Teen 6. The Children of Teen ParentsParents

Children born to teens are subject Children born to teens are subject to more risks than those born to to more risks than those born to older parents.older parents.

Physical risks- Physical risks-

Certain prenatal care behaviors could Certain prenatal care behaviors could put baby at riskput baby at risk non-prescription medications-may harm non-prescription medications-may harm

fetusfetus poor diet-underdeveloped or low-weight poor diet-underdeveloped or low-weight

babybaby smoking-premature birthsmoking-premature birth excessive alcohol-fetal alcohol syndrome excessive alcohol-fetal alcohol syndrome

(includes physical and mental disabilities)(includes physical and mental disabilities)

Intellectual risks-Intellectual risks-

First two years of life are critical First two years of life are critical because the child is building the mental because the child is building the mental foundation that will dictate behavior foundation that will dictate behavior through adulthoodthrough adulthood

Young people may lack the time to Young people may lack the time to adequately nurture the development of adequately nurture the development of their childtheir child

Emotional risks Emotional risks

research has shown that emotional research has shown that emotional development is the foundation of development is the foundation of intelligenceintelligence

even newborns have emotional needs-even newborns have emotional needs-rocking, touching, soothing, talking, rocking, touching, soothing, talking, and singingand singing

Social risks Social risks

children of teen parents often children of teen parents often become teen parents themselves become teen parents themselves

Financial risks Financial risks

with lack of education and job skills, with lack of education and job skills, children have a greater chance of children have a greater chance of living in poverty.living in poverty.

Deciding whether to have Deciding whether to have children:children:

Reasons for having Reasons for having children…children…

it is an expression of loveit is an expression of love sharing the joys and responsibilities of sharing the joys and responsibilities of

rearing a child brings many couples closer rearing a child brings many couples closer togethertogether

desire to have a family lifestyledesire to have a family lifestyle want to enrich their lives and share their want to enrich their lives and share their

experiences with childrenexperiences with children don’t want to miss the special experiences don’t want to miss the special experiences

of life that children make possibleof life that children make possible fulfilling role expectationsfulfilling role expectations come from stable home and want to come from stable home and want to

become parents toobecome parents too

Reasons for NOT having Reasons for NOT having childrenchildren

personal freedompersonal freedom career concernscareer concerns medical problemsmedical problems financial concernsfinancial concerns fearfear prefer freedom of a childless lifestyleprefer freedom of a childless lifestyle demands of a careerdemands of a career may have physical traits or hereditary may have physical traits or hereditary

diseases they do not wish a child to inheritdiseases they do not wish a child to inherit expense of rearing a childexpense of rearing a child unhappy childhood unhappy childhood fear of rearing a childfear of rearing a child

The end.The end.