Parenting

1. Parenting Unit 4 Parenting Challenges

2. 4.1 Match terms related to parenting challenges 1 ADHD - (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) - a learning disability in which a person is not able to control his or her activity or concentrate for a normal length of time. 2 Attention Span - the length of time a person can concentrate on any one thing. 3 Autism - a disorder characterized by lack of communication, extreme concern with oneself, and detachment from reality. 4 Caregiver - a person that provides care for and meets the needs of someone else. 5 Child Abuse - physical, emotional, or sexual violence against children.

3. 6 Child Neglect - failure to meet the child's physical or emotional needs. 7 Crisis - an unstable or critical situation in which the outcome will make a decisive difference for better or worse. 8 Disabled - unable to perform certain physical, mental, and/or emotional tasks. 9 Dual Career Family - a family in which both husband and wife are employed outside the home. 10 Dysfunctional Family - family system in which one or more family members do not fulfill their responsibilities throwing the system out of balance.

4. 11 Gifted Child - children with unusual intelligence, special artistic talents, and/or the ability to understand relationships and abstract ideas. 12 Hyperactive - being overly and uncontrollably active. 13 Inclusion - a term for enrolling special needs children into all areas of the curriculum. 14 Latch Key Child - a child who regularly goes home after school to an empty house or apartment.

5. 15 Postpartum Depression - feelings of sadness and hopelessness following the birth, delivery, and recovery period. 16 Prodigy - a gifted child. 17 Shaken Baby Syndrome - a serious type of physical abuse that occurs when a baby is violently shaken. 18 Sibling - a brother or sister. 19 Special Needs Population - a group of people identified as needing assistance to compensate for specific disabilities.

6. 4.2 Name specific concerns of a new parent • Items must be purchased to meet the baby’s needs (furniture, clothes, feeding supplies, bath supplies) • A choice between breast-feeding and bottle feeding has to be made • A larger dwelling may be needed to accommodate the baby

7. 4.2 Name specific concerns of a new parent • Daily routines must be adapted to meet the needs of the new baby • Feelings of resentment may occur if a parent is forced to give up a job or make a career change to a less demanding one • A feeling of being “broke” all the time may occur, especially if one parent has to give up a job

8. 4.2 Name specific concerns of a new parent • One or both parents may feel a lack of time for spouse • One parent may resent the other’s attention for the new baby • Parents often feel overwhelmed by responsibilities associated with children (feeding, bathing, dressing, responding to cries, putting to sleep, carrying from place to without parental care, a baby will die)

9. 4.2 Name specific concerns of a new parent • Irritability may occur due to the overwhelming responsibility & time-consuming demands of the baby (research shows that many couples experience a crisis situation when adjusting to a first child. This crisis is often more pronounced for couples who have been married either a very short time or a very long time or have an unhappy marriage)

10. 4.2 Name specific concerns of a new parent • Feelings of inadequacy may occur concerning child care (feelings of inadequacy are common with a first baby or when parents have had little previous experience with children) • Constant fatigue may occur (getting enough rest with a new baby is difficult)

11. 4.2 Name specific concerns of a new parent • Postpartum depression may occur • Mood swings from enthusiasm to depression are common for both parents • Parent staying home to care for the baby may feel alone, isolated, and depressed (leaving a child periodically with a competent caregiver will help restore the parent’s physical energy and relieve depression)

12. 4.2 Name specific concerns of a new parent • Feelings of anxiety often occur when baby cries too much or becomes sick • Child care services must be located and paid for if both parents work

13. 4.3 List specific concerns of single parents • General problems of single parents • Faces increased financial problems and may have to support family on one paycheck (financial requirements increase as children grow older. Single mothers often experience more financial problems than single fathers) • Feels the need to fill roles of both mother and father

14. 4.3 List specific concerns of single parents • Note-All children in single parent families do not have the same problems. Individual children may exhibit all or none of the following. It is important for parents to be aware of each child’s developmental stage and not expect the child to handle problems like an adult • Depression or anger due to loss of parent • Feeling that one is the cause of parents not living together • Fear that remaining parent will leave

15. 4.3 List specific concerns of single parents • Fear that remaining parent will leave • Rebellion and poor work habits at school (teachers should be informed concerning changes in family structure so they can help with child’s problems • Aggressive accts or extreme shyness toward others • Negative reactions to parents’ relationships with other adults (friendships with other adults are important. Parents should explain this to the child and reassure the child that he/she is loved.

16. 4.3 List specific concerns of single parents Has to cope with unique personal emotions in addition to child care • Confusion and disbelief of recent occurrences • Anger or disappointment due to unplanned pregnancy, separation, divorce, or desert • Change in lifestyle • Grief over death of spouse

17. 4.3 List specific concerns of single parents • Must seek and pay for child care services while at work • Has little free time and many demands • May feel socially isolated

18. 4.3 List specific concerns of single parents • Doesn’t have spouse to share in day-to-day joys, responsibilities, and problems of parenting. (*Many single parents join single parents groups to talk over problems, form babysitting pools or play groups, and form friendships with other adults in similar situations. It is often helpful to find an adult of the opposite sex to the parent in the home to share time with child/children) • Deals with guidance and discipline problems alone most of the time

19. 4.3 List specific concerns of single parents • Problems common to single teen parents • Faces decision of whether to keep the baby or put it up for adoption • Often lives with parents-conflicts may arise when teen and teen’s parents disagree on how the child should be raised • May fear loss of support and help of parents-lack of parental support could be due to the parents’ inability or unwillingness to help

20. 4.3 List specific concerns of single parents • Problems common to single teen parents • Lacks skills to get a well paying job and may never acquire the education necessary to received higher income level • May find someone to care for child while at school or work • May feel depressed due to loss of friends, dates and social life

21. 4.3 List specific concerns of single parents • Problems common to single teen parents • May feel disapproval from adults and peers • May have feelings of embarrassment, guilt, anger, helplessness, and/or indifference • Feels parenting responsibilities have arrived too soon

22. 4.4 Name specific concerns of dual-career families • Time and effort must be coordinated to achieve work and family related goals • Suitable arrangements for child care must be made • Latchkey children must be advised of safety measures and possible emergency situations

23. 4.4 Name specific concerns of dual-career families • Child care arrangements must be made in advance for days when children or sitter is ill or child care center is closed • Plans must be made the night before to avoid early morning stress • Household chores must be divided and shared equally

24. 4.5 List qualities of child-care services • Is the home or center licensed and is it checked regularly to meet health and safety standards? • Is the facility well respected in the community and are persons currently using the facility satisfied with services provided?

25. 4.5 List qualities of child-care services • Is the facility conveniently located? • What is the cost per child?

26. 4.5 List qualities of child-care services • Does the facility have flexible hours? • May children be brought in early or left late? • May children be picked up at any time of the day? • What are visiting hours for parents? (Good facilities usually encourage parents to spend as much time as possible with children and allow unannounced parent visitation.)

27. 4.5 List qualities of child-care services • What is the procedure for someone other than an unauthorized person to pick up a child? • Are precautions taken to keep children within the facility and away from strangers? • Are all areas of the facility supervised at all times? • Does the facility have a bright, cheerful, home-like atmosphere?

28. 4.5 List qualities of child-care services • Does the staff have training and experience in child care? • What is the adult/child ratio? • Is the staff relaxed and sensitive to the individual needs of parents and children? • Are caregivers supportive of parent/child relationships?

29. 4.5 List qualities of child-care services • Does the staff have training and experience in child care? • What is the adult/child ratio? • Is the staff relaxed and sensitive to the individual needs of parents and children? • Are caregivers supportive of parent/child relationships? (parents should avoid caregivers that compete with parents for child’s affection)

30. 4.5 List qualities of child-care services • When children misbehave are positive discipline techniques that are appropriate for the misbehavior and the child’s developmental stage?

31. 4.5 List qualities of child-care services • Are children grouped and activities planned according to each child’s developmental stage? • Does the facility have a variety of safe play equipment and toys for all ages?

32. 4.5 List qualities of child-care services • Can children engage in individual as well as group play? • Are children allowed to play outside when weather permits? • Is a comfortable and quiet place provided for naps?

33. 4.5 List qualities of child-care services • Are meals and snacks planned in regard to good nutrition and children’s preferences?

34. 4.5 List qualities of child-care services • Is the daily routine and care of children consistent? ( Once a child care facility is chosen, parents should be sensitive to the child’s reaction to the facility. If a child begs not to go every day, cries continuously when left, and appears unhappy and frustrated at the end of the day, the facility should be re-evaluated.)

35. 4.6 List causes of child abuse and neglect Parents are the most frequent child abusers and most abusive parents love and want their children • Parents are young and immature and cannot cope with child’s needs (*Teenage parents are more likely to be child abusers) • Parents are unmarried or were forced into marriage • Child was unplanned and/or unwanted and is blamed for interfering with teen parents’ pleasures

36. 4.6 List causes of child abuse and neglect • Crisis or stress situations in the home can cause parents or caregivers to abuse children (divorce, illness, loss of income, poverty, drug or alcohol abuse) • Parents have an unhappy marriage • Abuser has low self-esteem and/or had poor childhood experiences)

37. 4.6 List causes of child abuse and neglect • Parents may be uneducated • Abuser feels lonely and depressed • Abusive adult was an abused child (parents abused as children have a tendency to abuse their own children) • Family is socially isolated

38. 4.6 List causes of child abuse and neglect • Abusive adult has no friends and expects child to satisfy his/her emotional and social needs • Abuser lacks understanding of child development and has unreasonable expectations about the maturity or abilities of children (example: demands that the child be toilet trained before • the child is ready)

39. 4.7 Designate symptoms of child abuse and neglect Abused children may suffer permanent physical impairment, mental retardation, inability to form loving, trusting relationships with others, low self-esteem, violent and/or antisocial behavior, cycle of abusive behavior, and evendeath

40. 4.7 Designate symptoms of child abuse and neglect • Physical symptoms of child abuse • Bruises or welts of specific shapes (hangers, belts, bands, buckles) • Burns of specific shapes (cigarettes, stove, iron, immersion in hot liquid) • Fractures, lacerations, or abrasions (fractures are often spiral shape indicating twisting of limbs. Lacerations and abrasions are usually to mouth, eyes or external genitals)

41. 4.7 Designate symptoms of child abuse and neglect • Physical symptoms of child abuse • Unexplained abdominal injuries (swollen abdomen, tenderness in abdominal region, constant vomiting) • Signs of sexual abuse (difficulty in walking or sitting; torn, stained or bloody underwear; pain or itching in genital area; bruises or bleeding around genitals or anal area; STDs, unusual sexual knowledge or behavior)

42. 4.7 Designate symptoms of child abuse and neglect • Physical symptoms of child abuse • Unexplained abdominal injuries (swollen abdomen, tenderness in abdominal region, constant vomiting) • Signs of sexual abuse (difficulty in walking or sitting; torn, stained or bloody underwear; pain or itching in genital area; bruises or bleeding around genitals or anal area; STDs, unusual sexual knowledge or behavior)

43. 4.7 Designate symptoms of child abuse and neglect • Physical symptoms of child neglect • Consistent hunger or signs of malnutrition • Inappropriate dress for weather • Poor personal hygiene

44. 4.7 Designate symptoms of child abuse and neglect • Abandonment or rejection • Lack of supervision or guidance • Unmet physical or medical needs • Failure to thrive physically, emotionally, socially, or intellectually

45. 4.7 Designate symptoms of child abuse and neglect • Behavioral symptoms of child abuse and neglect • Extreme aggressiveness or withdrawal • Fear or anxiety concerning a specific person or persons • Insomnia and nightmares • Low self-esteem

46. 4.7 Designate symptoms of child abuse and neglect • Behavioral symptoms of child abuse • Depression, self-destructive tendencies, and talk of suicide • Substance abuse in older children • Runaway attempts • Extreme need for affection

47. 4.7 Designate symptoms of child abuse and neglect • Behavioral symptoms of child abuse • Unusual nervousness • Frequent tardiness or absence from school • Delinquent behavior

48. 4.7 Designate symptoms of child abuse and neglect • Behavioral symptoms of child abuse • Fear of or reluctance to go to a specific place • Antisocial behavior • Regression in toilet-training or bed-wetting, or an unusual anxiety concerning urinating

49. 4.8 Identify characteristics of children with special needs • Children with disabilities • Physical symptoms • Have limited vision, blindness or other visual problems • Exhibit mild to total deafness • Become progressively weak and muscles shrink • Fail to grow and gain weight • Have deformities of bones and/or joints

50. 4.8 Identify characteristics of children with special needs • Children with disabilities • Physical symptoms • Lack normal control of body )cerebral palsy, arthritis, muscular dystrophy, absence of limbs, or limb malformations • Have chronic illness or health conditions that are terminal, chronic, or take a long time for recovery (asthma, cystic fibrosis, kidney disorders, hemophilia, heart defects, diabetes, epilepsy, burns, convulsions)