Parenting

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

For other uses, see Parent (disambiguation).

Parenting is the process of raising and educating a child from birth until adulthood. This is usually done in a child's family by the mother and father (i.e., the biological parents). Where parents are unable or unwilling to provide this care, it is usually taken on by close relatives (including older siblings) and grandparents, adoptive parents, foster parents, godparents, or institutions (such as group homes or orphanages). Parens patriae refers to the public policy power of the state to usurp the rights of the natural parent, legal guardian or informal caregiver, and to act as the parent of any child or individual who is in need of protection (i.e. if the child's caregiver is exceedingly violent or dangerous).

[edit] Aspects of parenting

• Physical care:
  • Reliably providing shelter, education, medical care, physical safety, and nourishment.
• Social development and emotional support:
  • Love, play, and physical touch
  • Social skills and etiquette
  • Ethics and value systems
  • Moral and spiritual development
  • Norms and contributions to the child's religion and ethnic customs
• Financial support:
  • Money provided as child support by custodial or non-custodial parent(s), or the state
  • Insurance coverage and payments for education

[edit] Parenting methods and practices

Main articles: Nurturant parent model and Strict father model

Parenting typically utilizes rewards, praise and discipline (or punishment) as tools of behavioral control. In some jurisdictions physical punishment (eg., spanking) is prohibited by law and a number of parents have adopted non-physical approaches to child discipline. Most experts now agree that physical punishment is not an effective behaviour modification tool. The term "child training" implies a specific type of parenting that focuses on holistic understanding of the child. The "Taking Children Seriously" philosophy sees both praise and punishment as manipulative and harmful to children and advocates other methods to reach agreement with them. The term "attachment parenting" seeks to create strong emotional bonds and avoid physical punishment, with discipline being accommodated by interactions recognizing a child's emotional needs.

• Discipline:
  • Time-out
  • Spanking
  • Taking Children Seriously (TCS) philosophy
  • Parental supervision

• Parenting fundamentals:
  • Structure
  • Accountability
  • Consistency
  • Motivation

[edit] Pregnancy and the early years

See also: Pregnancy, antenatal care, Prenatal care, and Childcare

[edit] Pregnancy and prenatal parenting

During pregnancy the unborn child is affected by many decisions his or her parents make, particularly choices linked to their lifestyle. The health and diet decisions of the mother can have either a positive or negative impact on the child.

Many people believe that parenting begins with birth, but the mother begins raising and nurturing a child well before birth. Scientific evidence indicates that from the sixth month on (and possibly earlier)the unborn baby is able to feel, hear, sense, be aware of, and possibly remember. Based on this evidence a mother begins parenting before birth.

[edit] Parenting infants

See also: infancy

Being the parent of an infant is a major responsibility. Infants require a lot of care including (but not limited to) feeding, bathing, changing diapers, and health care. Common parenting issues in infancy:

• Infant care:
  • Teething
  • Sleep
  • Breastfeeding
  • Baby bottle
  • Diaper rash
  • Baby Colic
  • Immunization
  • Childhood development
  • Paternal bond
  • Pacifier use
  • Circumcision
• Day care

[edit] Parenting toddlers

See also: Toddler

Parenting a Toddler is a lot of work. Parenting responsibilities during the toddler years include (but are not limited to) feeding, bathing, potty training, ensuring their safety, teaching, and attending to their well being. Common parenting issues with toddlers:

• Toilet training
• bathing

[edit] Preschool and school years

[edit] Preschool parenting

Parenting responsibilities for preschool age children often include (but are not limited to)feeding, bathing,teaching, ensuring their safety, and attending to their well being. Parents are expected to make decisions about preschool education. Issues related to parenting preschool age children:

• preschool education
• early childhood education

[edit] School years

Parenting responsibilities during the school years include (but are not limited to) feeding, assisting with education, ensuring their safety and wellness, and providing them with a loving and nurturing home environment. Issues related to parenting school age children:

• Education:
  • Kindergarten
  • Primary education
  • Adolescence
  • Secondary education
  • High school

[edit] Assistance

Parents may receive assistance from a variety of individuals and organizations. Employers may offer specific benefits or programs for parents.

• Parental leave

[edit] Observers

Benjamin Spock was an authority on parenting to a generation of North American parents. A current authority is T. Berry Brazelton, the founder of the Child Development Unit at Children's Hospital, Boston, and Professor of Pediatrics Emeritus at Harvard Medical School.

[edit] Parenting assessment

There are several parent self-report measures that have been developed for use by clinicians and researchers to assess parenting, such as the Parenting Stress Index (PSI; Abidin, 1995) and Adult-Adolescent Parenting Inventory (AAPI; Bavolek, 1984). Parenting measures can also be observational, such as the Parent-Child Interaction Assessment-II (PCIA-II; Holigrocki, Kaminski, & Frieswyk, 1999).

See:

• Abidin, R. (1995). Parenting Stress Index: Professional Manual. 3rd Ed. Lutz, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc.
• Bavolek, S. J. (1984). Handbook for the Adult-Adolescent Parenting Inventory. Eau Claire, Wisconsin: Family Development Associates, Inc.
• Holigrocki, R. J, Kaminski, P. L., & Frieswyk, S. H. (1999). Introduction to the Parent-Child Interaction Assessment. Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 63(3), 413–428.

[edit] Christian parenting

See also: James Dobson and Strict father model

Christian parenting is popular amongst Evangelicals and fundamentalist Christian parents who see it as applying biblical principles to parenting. Information on Christian parenting is found in publications^[1], Christian Parenting websites^[2] and in seminars^[3] devoted to assisting parents to apply Christian principles to parenting. Particualy influentaial has been James Dobson and his guide "Dare to Discipline"^[4].

In a study^[5] of Christian parents done by Christian Parenting Today in 2000, 39% have family devotions once a week or more, and 69% of parents consider Sunday school, youth and children's programs extremely important.

Some scientists, including Richard Dawkins, consider christian or other religious parenting to be child abuse.[1]

[edit] See also

• Attachment parenting
• Discipline
  • Child discipline
  • School discipline
  • Taking Children Seriously
• Empty nest syndrome
• List of child related articles
• Maternal bond and paternal bond
• Parental alienation
• Punishment
• Single parent
• Parental leave
• Overparenting

[edit] External links

• Raising Exceptional Children Successful Parenting Techniques -- From Brigham Young University
• Raising Children Network Comprehensive, expert-reviewed resource -- the national parenting website of Australia
• Berkeley Parents Network
• Natural Child Project Resources for parents
• Fight 4 Kids Internet Parenting Support
• Shared Parenting Works
• Being a Nurturing Parent From the University of Florida/IFAS Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences
• Helping Children Thrive / Supporting Woman Abuse Survivors as Mothers: A Resource to Support Parenting
• Top Ten Parenting Tips for Mothers who have Left Abusive Relationships
• Families Online Magazine -Parenting Advice from Experts
• parenting.com - Parenting portal
• blogs.jambav.com - Jambav Parenting blogs
• Your Parenting Solutions, the Connection Parenting Resource