CHAPTER 9

Children and Parents

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McGraw-Hill © 2010 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., All Rights Reserved

Prepared by Cathie Robertson, Grossmont College

DATE WITH THE FAMILY

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WHAT ARE PARENTS SUPPOSED TO DO FOR CHILDREN?

Love, nurturing, & care to develop sense of trust

Assistance toward autonomy

Guidance, discipline, & support

Source of primary socialization

PARENTING

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtJ5-_9V1fkRoseanne

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbkM_3teyQs&feature=related

Learning from what parents do.

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SOCIALIZATION AS SUPPORT AND CONTROL

Types of Parenting (Baumrind)

Authoritative high levels of emotional support and consistent moderate control

Permissive some support with low or no control

Authoritarian low emotional support and coercive attempts to control

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SOCIALIZATION AND ETHNICITYBaumrind’s study more likely to apply to

middle class whites

Primary task of socialization is to familiarize child with his/her cultureTeaching of norms and values

Norms: Widely accepted rulesValues: Goals or principles held in high esteem by society

AFRICAN AMERICAN PARENTS & CHILDREN

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RACE/ETHNICITY AND PARENTING

Cultural Socialization: Racial/Ethnic pride History Heritage

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SOCIALIZATION AND SOCIAL CLASS

Social class and parental valuesMiddle class less supervised at workFocus on autonomy, independence, and self-direction

Working class and lower class highly supervised at work

Focus on obedience and conformity

SOCIALIZATION AND GENDERTwo-way process

Parents and children influence each other

Children through behavior

Parents through decisions

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1. Material and physical supportHow much is enough?

2. Emotional support What does this mean?

3. ControlSupervise and monitor children’s behaviorIn what ways?

11/7 WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?Androgynous behavior: Characteristics of

both gendersWhat should boys learn?What should girls learn?

How to encourage androgynous behavior?

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When fathers are involved, children:

Were more responsible

Had fewer behavior problems

Got along better with others

WHAT DIFFERENCES DO FATHERS MAKE?

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FATHERS RELATE TO YOUNG CHILDREN DIFFERENTLY THAN MOTHERS DO

Fathers play – “rough and tumble”Helps with regulation of emotion

Children have more self-control

Children have more friends

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FATHERS’ INFLUENCE IS OFTEN INDIRECT

Works through mothersEmotional support for mothersSupport for mothers’ authority

The better the quality of parents’ relationship, the better the child faresChild’s behaviorSchool achievement

Father provides (additional) income

THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING AMERICAN FAMILY

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FIGURE 9.1

AVERAGE WEEKLY HOURS OF CHILDCARE OF MOTHERS AND FATHERS

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PUBLIC FUNDING FOR FORMAL CHILD CARE

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U.S. public funding for formal child care (below age of three) far behind most of developed world

Chart: Public spending on formal child care in 14 developed nations

PUBLIC FUNDING FOR FORMAL CHILD CARE

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WHAT MIGHT PREVENT PARENTS FROM DOING WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO?

Poverty

Economic changes

Changes in family organization

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UNEMPLOYMENT AND POVERTYLower income

Inadequate prenatal care (Quality)

Less prenatal care (Quantity)

Fewer clothesLess food Poor housingAnything else?

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UNEMPLOYMENT

Affect parents’ behavior toward each other and children

Fathers under economic pressure:More irritable and hostile to wives and

children

Children more sullen, depressed, and aggressive

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Similar feelings found in unemployed and their childrenDepressed, anxious parent(s)Little emotional support for children

Threats of harsh punishmentInconsistentActual harsh punishmentPunitive discipline

POVERTY

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DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE

Most common way for a child to live in single parent family is by divorce

First two years, children are distressed

Mother ends up in lower economic statusMay be depressed and angry

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Long term most children do not suffer substantial harm

Over the years, most cope adequately

Remarriage of custodial parent does not appear to change well-being of children

DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE (CONT.)

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THE WELL-BEING OF AMERICAN CHILDREN

Has the well-being declined?

It depends----Compared with when?

Which children?

POVERTY RATES FOR CHILDREN IN U. S.

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PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN LIVING WITH

TWO PARENTS

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FAMILIES AND POVERTY

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MARRIAGE AND CHILD POVERTY

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CHILDREN AND POVERTY

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15-YEAR POVERTY EXPERIENCES OF CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 4 IN

1968

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The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., © 2008 All Rights Reserved

WHAT CAN WE DO TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES?

National Government?State Government?Local Communities?Neighborhoods?Family members?Individuals?

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The true measure of a nation’s standing is how well it attends to its children.

Health and safety

Material securityEducation and socialization Sense of being loved and valued Sense of being included in:

Their families Society