OBJECTIVE 4.04 UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES OF

PARENTING INFANTSCHAPTER 2, THE DEVELOPING CHILD

PCD

Essential Standard 4.00Understand child care issues

New Parent Interview

 Directions: Interview new parents in the community.

This new parent has to be 18 years of age and older. Ask them to relate experiences they had when first

becoming a parent and challenges which they might have had as a new parent.

Find out the answers to the questions and write down on Interview sheet.

Record first and last name of person you interview. The answers should be in your own writing. Do not give

the interview sheet to a new parent and have them record answers…this is not an INTERVIEW!

ESSENTIAL QUESTION:

Directions:Write the question and answer in your notebook in section 4.04.What do you feel challenges individuals when they become parents?

NEW PARENT CHALLENGES

Directions: Each group will write on the poster board specific

actions you could take as a new parent to help with the challenges.

Groups will need to write as many different actions to take in the given time span, time will be called to start and stop.1. Adapting to new routines2. Handling mixed emotions3. Gaining confidence4. Strengthening the parent-child bond5. Managing multiple roles6. Developing a support system

Use the to introduce students to the challenges new parents face when a new child arrives in the home.

Challenges for new parents

Adapting to new routinesAdapting to interrupted sleepAccepting offers of assistanceAllowing time for other things

Handling mixed emotionsDealing with the happiness of having the

baby vs. anxiety of responsibilitiesCoping with fear of having the baby vs.

feeling of being overwhelmedResolving resentment of new role vs.

guilt for having negative feelings

Challenges for new parents

Gaining confidence Realizing that confidence is not inborn,

but takes time and patienceObtaining guidance from experienced

parentsGrowing through hands-on experiences

Strengthening the parent-child bondBonding develops graduallyMeeting daily needs of child with love

Challenges for new parents

Managing multiple rolesSetting prioritiesUsing time effectivelyGetting organizedManaging stress

Developing a support systemSelecting trustworthy peopleShowing kindness and diplomacyExpressing appreciation

Adapting to New Routines

Directions: Read the situations. At the end of the situation, write

differences among the three situations and how an infant can change lives.

Part One - Before Baby Comes

Tom and Susan go to bed early in the evenings so that Susan can rest her feet that are swelling. They are able to enjoy reading a good book before they fall asleep at night. They are well rested in the morning and get up and eat a leisurely breakfast before Tom goes to work. Susan is far enough into her pregnancy that she is on pregnancy leave already.

Part Two – After Baby Arrives

Tom and Susan are at home with their new baby girl. They feel that their lives have been turned upside down. Lori the new baby girl only sleeps one hour at a time, day or night. Susan feeds her ten to twelve times a day, around the clock. Susan has to change her diaper about the same number of times around the clock. Susan is still recovering from delivery and needs her rest.

Part Three – Discussion of the Situation

Tom and Susan are at home with their new baby girl. They feel that their lives have been turned upside down. They decided to sit down and discuss what they could do to make the routine better fit into their family lifestyles so Susan could recover from the delivery and be able to get some rest. Write down your idea’s about Tom and Susan’s situation.

Idea prompts to aid discussion: Tom could alternate helping Susan feed and diaper. If Susan breastfeeds, she could pump milk so Tom could feed

Lori with a bottle. They could ask friends or family for assistance. Friend could prepare a meal or do a load of laundry to free

time with the baby or time for rest.

More Challenges for New Parents

Directions: Think about each of the five challenges presented. 1st:

Close your eyes and imagine each of the five situations. 2nd:

Write down what you think after hearing each. Note:

• The situation is after the baby comes home and the routine changes.

3rd: As a class we will discuss the situation and what you wrote

you would do about trying to improve the routine to cope with the changes.

Situation #1

Handling mixed emotions

Situation #2

Gaining confidence

Situation #3

Strengthening the parent-child bond

Situation #4

Managing multiple roles

Situation #5

Developing a support system

Strengthening the Bond - Activity

Each student will receive the following materials: Pint zip-lock bags: one per student Cotton balls: one per student Large dry beans: one per student Water for cotton balls Clear tape Windows

Put the bean in the zip lock bag and wet the cotton ball and put it in the bag with the bean.

Zip up the bag and tape it to the window in the classroom. Make sure you write your name on your zip lock bag. At the beginning of class each day you will need to check on your bean,

go back to your seat and write in your notebook about what is happening to your bean and draw a picture your bean.

Each day we will talk about how you feel about your bean.

Key Terms: Challenges of

Parenting

routine A set schedule for doing activities

mixed emotionsHaving a variety of feeling about something

confidenceBelieving in ones self

bondingForming of a close emotional tie between parents and child.

multiple rolesBeing a mother, father, and having a career all at the same time.

prioritiesPutting tasks in order of importance

support systemPeople in parents lives who they can trust and rely on to help them with challenges of caring for children

diplomacyA tactful way of working with a touchy relationship

John and Mary put their new baby as the top priority of their day. They made a schedule for the day to include the work they needed to accomplish during the day and also the schedule for the new baby. John was a very organized person and was very good at working in stressful situations.

What challenge for new parents does this describe?

A. Adapting to new routinesB. Developing a support systemC. Handling mixed emotionsD. Managing multiple rolesAnswer=D

Terry and Melinda can home from the hospital today. The first night the new baby cried for several hours. Melinda got up and then Terry would get up. Melinda’s mother came to stay for the first week and helped out also. By Melinda’s mother being in the home Terry was able to go back to work earlier.

What challenge for new parents does this describe?

A. Adapting to new routinesB. Developing a support systemC. Handling mixed emotions D. Strengthening the parent-child bond

Answer=A

Developing a Support System

Directions: On your own paper, write the following

statements and then put your own answers:

1. Traits of trustworthy people to help with your child.

2. Ways to show kindness and diplomacy (peacekeeping).

3. Ways to express appreciations to people who have helped a new parent.

What do you have on your plate?Ways to Manage Multiple Roles of a New Parent

Each student will receive the following: Paper plate Magazines Scissors Glue Coloring pencils, crayons, markers

Directions: Find pictures out of the provided magazines that represent the

different ways you can manage multiple roles of a new parent. Title your plate

“Managing Multiple Roles of New Parents” Or come up with your own title

Glue your pictures to your plate I should not be able to see your plate=collage You need multiple pictures for representations, meaning you may

need to cut them small.

Way to manage roles examples:•setting priorities•using time effectively•organizing•managing stress

Story as a Summary

Write a story as a summary of what you have learned from this objective, including the challenges from notes.

Include all challenges and what you would do to make these less stressful for the family.

Ideas for Families

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/nibbles/challenges.html

Go to the website and pick one of the “Challenges for parents” topics to read.

After reading the information, write down a minimum of six things you learned from the reading Write your name, date, and title for your paper

“Ideas for Families”-Challenges for Parents Website Write down the topic you read # your paper 1 through 6 and write 6 things you

learned.