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PARENTING AND PARENTHOOD

byWiredufred Published:

 By the end of this post, reader should be able to:

·         Distinguish between Parenting and Parenthood.

·         Explain the roles parents play in the development of a child.

·         Identify the challenges of Parenting.

·         Describe the responsibilities of parents.

 

PARENTING AND PARENTHOOD

Who is a parent? A parent is one who gives birth to a child or adopts one and cares for him or her. OR, is one who gives birth to a child, acquires a child legally through mutual concern or adoption.

 

Parenting 

Parenting is the process of caring for children and helping them to grow and learn. OR Parenting is the activity of bringing up and looking after children to be useful citizens in society.

Parenting roles can be assumed by people who do not have their own children. For example, couples who may have adopted a child, older siblings and women who work in orphanages.

 

Parenting is the activity of bringing up children
Parenting is the activity of bringing up children

 

Parenting involves using skills, time and energy, understanding to raise healthy and well-adjusted children and giving guidance to the children.

Parents must be ready, that is physically (healthy) socially, financially and emotionally matured.

 

Parenthood

The state of being a parent; being mother or father with responsibilities and skills associated with raising children.

Parenthood is the state of being a parent. It starts when pregnancy is confirmed thus the term an 'expectant mother'. Parenthood however, stops when one (parent) dies and not when children leave the home.

Responsible parenthood implies that parents (mother, fathers, or any person who adopts a child) plays his or her role very effectively so as to ensure the proper socialization and development of the child in order to make the child a useful and responsible member of the society.

The decision to become a parent requires an informed decision because it is a step; that will affect every aspect of a person's life.

 

Factors to consider before parenting

(i) Financial and personal readiness: Raising children cost money. Would be parents should therefore be financially and personally ready to venture into it. E.g., Cost of education, medical care, recreational activities etc.

(ii) Emotional maturity: Would be parents must be emotionally matured to

venture into parenting as it involves a major commitment of time and other resources. E.g., the stress of having a child.

(iii) Goals and expectations: Since parents have their own goals and expectations, it is important to space and time child birth in such a way that it does not affect their personal goals.

(iv) Age: The older you are the better emotional matured you are to be a

parent. With age comes experience, wisdom as well as income to deal with the problems of parenthood.

 

Roles of Parents

Involve providing;

(i) Emotional, mental and social needs.

(ii) Physical care including food for basic nutrition, clothing, rest and nurturing.

(iii) Giving guidance to the child.

 

Responsibilities  of Parents

Some of the responsibilities of parents include the following:

(i) It is the responsibility of every parent to ensure that children are properly provided with their basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter.

(ii) Then again, every responsible parent is supposed to avoid child labor and ensure the proper education of his or her children.

(iii) Furthermore, it is the responsibility of parents to properly socialize their children by passing on the culture of the society within which they live to them so as to enable them fit into the society and function effectively.

(iv) Besides, parents are responsible for the provision of security and protection for the benefit of their children. This will help provide a conducive social and physical environment which is necessary for the proper development of a child.

(v) In addition, parents are supposed to inculcate discipline into their children by disciplining them whenever they go wrong or misbehave.

(vi) Moreover, parents should take it as a responsibility to instill in their children, dangers of social vices such as drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, pre-marital sex and armed robbery among others. Thus, parents are responsible for the health, nutritional, physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of their children and the proper nurturing or bringing up of children.

(vii) Provision of adequate emotional and spiritual upliftment to the child so that he or she can appreciate himself or herself, develop his or her self-concept and contribute meaningfully to society.

 

Parenting Styles

(i) Authoritative style of parenting

In this style of parenting, parents set limits, standards, and goals based on their expectations of their children's abilities as well as stage of development.

Reasons behind the limits set and decisions that are made are explained to the children by parents. Children's ideas and inputs are listened to and they are allowed a certain amount of independence and decision making within the established limits. Since parents guide, direct and control children within set limits, they produce better adjusted children who grow to be responsible adults.

(ii) Authoritarian style of parenting

This style of parenting is based on the perception or idea or belief that children should obey their parents without question or hesitation. Parents alone set the rules and standards to control and restrict the behavior of children, with little or no further discussion. Rules and goals are made clear to children, they have no option than to accept, and failure to meet goals or obey rules is dealt with severely by punishment. The effect of this style of parenting is that, it produces children who cannot be independent. They cannot take decision and are timid.

(iii) Permissive style of parenting

Here, children set their own goals, rules, standards and limits. Children are given freedom to have their independence and what they wish and parent accepts their impulses, feelings and behavior. The effect of this style of parenting is that, it produces children who rebel against authority.

 

Challenges of Parenting

Parenting makes demands on the economic (money) and human resources (time and energy) of the parents.

a. Economic Demands

(i) Parents need to work hard in order to raise money to ensure that the rapid growing children's needs of food, shelter, clothing etc. are met.

(ii) Parents need money to make provision for children's education, medical care and recreational activities.

 

b. Emotional Demands

Parenting requires making adjustment in life style and change of plans;

(i) Needs emotional adjustments.

(ii) Requires physical and emotional maturity.

(iii) May feel left out.

 

c. Demand on Human Resources

(i) Demands on human resources of time and energy to provide care.

(ii) It takes skill, time, patience and energy to provide all the care babies and children need to grow up and learn.


Effects of Child Care Pressures on Parents

(i) Lowering of living standards by not going out for recreation regularly and buying of less expensive and few clothes.

(ii) Financial cost; demands on income are high. This leaves parents with little or no money to go out as they used to.

(iii) Loss of freedom; drain on parent's time and money. Time, patience and energy is needed to provide all the care that the children need.

(iv) Pay less attention to each other. Parents feel they have no time and energy left for themselves or for each other.

 

Benefits of Parenting

(i) Parents enjoy seeing their children grow.

(ii) Parents perceive it as a long-term investment, etc.

(iii) The bond developed is strong. There is sense of fulfillment and is emotionally rewarding.

(iv) Shared love and affection between parents and children.

 

Responsibilities Of Father

Responsibilities of a father include:

(i) Father provides financial support and security.

(ii) He provides physical and emotional security.

(iii) He is responsible for the maintenance of discipline in the home.

(iv) He also provides social needs such as education, religion, recreation, entertainment and guidance.

(v) He also gives status or identity to children. Children bear the name of their father in addition to their name.

 

Responsibilities of the Mother

(i) Caring for family members' daily needs i.e. feeding, clothing, and cleaning to maintain health.

(ii) Socialization: She ensures that children or the young ones develop acceptable societal values.

(iii)Provides emotional security through love and affection.

(iv) Mother also contributes to the social needs of children and teaching of basic home skills e.g. cleaning, washing, cooking, etc. 

 

Responsibilities of Children towards their Parents

Children are expected to perform the following religious and moral responsibilities:

1. They perform household chores like cleaning, sweeping, washing, weeding and fetching water and preparing meals for the family.

2. They assist their parents in running their businesses or careers during vacations or over the weekends. For example, one can help to sell wares at the market or home.

3. They run errands for their parents, guardians and elderly siblings and other family members.

4. They can care for younger siblings when the parents are not present or are occupied with other activities.

 

Duties Children Perform at Home

  (i) They undertake household chores like sweeping, cleaning and washing of utensils.

(ii) They help with cooking at home.

(iii) They run errands for their parents.

(iv) They take care of their younger siblings when parents are away.

(v) They offer helping hands in the economic activities of their parents. e.g., going to farm on Saturdays if their parents are farmers.

(vi) They wash clothes, fetch water and carry food and firewood from farm to the house.

(vii) Some older children may help their parents in generating income. e.g., selling of ice water.

 

Physical Care Parents Are Expected to Provide for Their Children

Physical care parents are expected to provide for their children include:

·    Food for basic nutrition: Children grow at a rapid rate and therefore need plenty of nutritious foods to help them grow and develop healthy bodies.

·    Clothing: Parents should provide their children with appropriate dresses for their health

·    Self-care: Parents should train children to take over some of t' leir own physical care. E.g., learning how to put on and remove clothes, brushing teeth, etc.

·   Rest: children are very active. It is therefore the responsibility of parents to make sure that they get adequate rest.

·    Medical care: Another way parents provide physical care for their children is by ensuring that the children received good medical and dental care.

 

 

SSCE. WASSCE Past Questions and Answers on Parenting and Parenthood (Management in Living)

l. a. List four (4) important factors that promote physical development in children (June 2006)

Solution

(i) Heredity: Every child resembles his parents

(ii) Environment: This includes all the conditions, circumstances and influences of the surroundings and affecting the development of the child.

(iii) Good nutrition: Good nutrition in the form of balanced diet is important for good health and growth.

(iv) Love and affection: The child needs to feel loved and wanted.

(v) Exercise / recreation.

(vi) Good shelter.

(vii) Clothing.

(viii) Health care.

 

b. List six (6) accidents that can happen to children in the home.

 Solution

(i) Suffocation

(ii) Choking or swallowing of objects

(iii) Poisoning

(iv) Falls

(v) Burns and scalds

(vi) Cuts and bruises

(vii) Electric shock

 

l.c. State six (6) signs of teething in children

Solution

(i) Fever / headache / feeling sick

(ii) Swollen gum

(iii) Loss of appetite

(iv) Restlessness / sleeplessness / excessive crying.

(v) Diarrhea

(vi) Itching of the gum / likes biting objects

(vii) Runny nose

 

2.a. State four guidelines that should be adopted in training a child in the use of the toilet (June 2007)

Solution

(i) Toilet training should start early (six months after birth)

(ii) The child should be provided with a comfortable potty with a good fitting lid.

(iii) Sit the baby comfortably and help him to relax. He should be made to feel at ease.

(iv) Training should be done slowly.

(v) Recognize the baby's signs for toilet.

(vi) Train consistently.

(vii) Keep the child's potty spotlessly clean after each use.

 

(b) List four ways of caring for a toddler

Solution

(i) Provision of adequate nutritious food.

(ii) Provision of suitable clothing.

(iii) Personal hygiene of the toddler should be ensured.

(iv) The toddler should have regular rest and sufficient exercise.

(v) He should be provided adequately with suitable toys and play materials.

(vi) Immunization should be given at the right periods.

 

3. (a) Explain the following terms

(i) Gestational stage

(ii) Prematurity

(iii) Full-term baby

(iv) Toddler

 

Solution

(i) Gestational stage:- This is the period between conception and child birth

(ii) Prematurity:- Prematurity refers to birth before thirty seven weeks of gestation

(iii) Full-term baby:- Full term baby refers to a baby delivered during the normal period of gestation. Between thirty-eight and forty weeks

(iv) Toddler:- A toddler is a child of one or two years of age

 

(b) State four consequences of poor nutrition during infancy

Solution

Consequences of poor nutrition during infancy include:

(i) Constipation

(ii) Diarrhea

(iii) Anaemia

(iv) Stomach upsets

(v) "Kwashiorkor"

(vi) "Beri-beri"

(vii) Stunted growth

 

4. (a) Who is a parent?

Solution

A parent is one who gives birth to a child or who acquires a child legally through mutual concern or adoption. Or someone who gives birth to a child or adopts one and cares for him or her.

 

(b) State six effects of child care to parents

Solution

(i) Parents need enough money to provide the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter for the children.

(ii) They will also need extra money to be able to care for their medical or health needs, education and recreational activities

(iii) Parents use lot of their time and energy in caring for or supervising or controlling and disciplining the children.

(iv) Child care can lead to fatigue and parents may not have time for relaxation or leisure (v) It can lead to stress on parents

(vi) It however gives parents a sense of fulfillment and companionship

(vii) Parents may not have time for each other during child care

(viii) During child care parents pleasurable and entertaining activities are curtailed or ruled out completely

(ix) During child care, parents may be unable to maintain their living standards

 

5. (a) Explain four factors to consider before becoming a parent.

Solution

1. Financial and personal readiness: A couple must be ready financially to support the pregnancy and growth the child they are raising. This involves a lot of planning and money if they are to provide adequate healthcare for the child.

2. Emotional maturity: The parents must be emotional adults to care for their child. They should not be kids themselves, else it would create a situation where kids are taking care of kids.

3. Goals and expectations: Parents must ensure that raising a child would not adversely affect their goals and expectations. Parents must also be prepared to deal with the challenges of raising kids and the interruptions that may come as a result of caring for a child.

4. Age: It is not ideal to have a child when one is very old. Neither is it appropriate to have a child when one is too young. The perfect balance would ensure the safe development of the child.

 

(b) Explain the three specific skills required in parenting.

Solution

·   Ensure that children are properly provided with their basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter.

·  Properly socialize their children by passing on the culture of the society within which they live to them so as to enable them fit into the society and function effectively.

·    Provision of security and protection for the benefit of their children.  

·  Inculcate discipline into their children

 

(c) Explain the three basic styles of parenting.

Solution

(i) Authoritative style of parenting: In this style of parenting, parents set limits, standards, and goals based on their expectations of their children's abilities as well as stage of development. Reasons behind the limits set and decisions that are made are explained to the children by parents. Children's ideas and inputs are   listened to and they are allowed a certain amount of independence and decision making within the established limits. Since parents guide, direct and control children within set limits, they produce better adjusted children who grow to be responsible adults.

(ii) Authoritarian style of parenting: This style of parenting is based on the perception or idea or belief that children should obey their parents without question or hesitation. Parents alone set the rules and standards to control and restrict the behavior of children, with little or no further discussion. Rules and goals are made clear to children, they have no option than to accept, and failure to meet goals or obey rules is dealt with severely by punishment. The effect of this style of parenting is that, it produces children who cannot be independent. They cannot take decision and are timid.

(iii) Permissive style of parenting: Here, children set their own goals, rules, standards and limits. Children are given freedom to have their independence and what they wish and parent accepts their impulses, feelings and behavior. The effect of this style of parenting is that, it produces children who rebel against authority.

 

EXAMINATION QUESTIONS

l. a.i. Explain the term street children.

ii. State three reasons why children should not live on the streets.

b. Name three rights of a child in a society.

2.a.      Explain the following terms:

(i) Gestational stage

(ii) Prematurity

(iii) Full-term baby

(iv) Toddler

2.b. State four consequences of poor nutrition during infancy.

c. Discuss four problems associated with teenage pregnancy (June 2008)

3.a. Who is a parent?

   b. Differentiate between parenting and parenthood.

4. Identify and explain three parenting styles.

5. Explain five roles of parents

6. What are the challenges of parenting?

7. State four responsibilities of

a. a father

b. a mother

8. State four benefits of parenting.

9.         What are the effects of child care pressures on parents.

 

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