9.3 - Becoming a parent or carer: Types of P and C

Question 1

Types of P and C: Biological parents

Answer 1

• Related to their children ‘by blood’.
• Created through the use of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART).
• ART includes IVF and Gamete intro-Fallopian transfer (GIFT) and artificial insemination.

Question 2

Types of P and C: Social parents

Answer 2

• Foster parent
• Adoptive parent
• Surrogate parent
• Step parent

Question 3

Types of P and C: Social parents

Foster carers

Answer 3

When the parents are unable to take care of their child. The child may be placed with people who take the role of parenting.

Question 4

Types of P and C: Social parents

Foster carers: Types

Answer 4

EMERGENCY: When the child requires immediate placement due to concern of their safety and well-being.

RESPITE CARE: Usually short term, lasting for a day or up to a week.

SHORT - MEDIUM CARE: Children placed in foster care for up to 6 months.

LONG TERM - PERMANENT: For longer than 6 months and not expected to return to their parents.

Question 5

Types of P and C: Social parents

Adoption

Answer 5

Adoption permanently transfer all legal parenting rights and responsibilities.

Why might adoption occur:

• Parents may have low income
• patents are unfit to take care o dependent
• Location
• Parents may have mental issues or special needs.

Question 6

Types of P and C: Social parents

Adoption: Types

Answer 6

INTER COUNTRY: Children who are adopted from other countries.

LOCAL: Adoptions of children who live in Australia. Do not know the adoptive parents.

‘KNOWN’ CHILD: Adoptions of children who live in Australia. Have established relationship with adoptive parents. E.G Step parents, relatives, carers

Question 7

Types of P and C: Social parents

Surrogacy

Answer 7

Arrangement where a women becomes pregnant and gives birth to child with the intention of handing the new born over straight after birth.

Question 8

Types of P and C: Social parents

Step parents

Answer 8

A person who takes on the role of the parent for a child who is not biologically related to them. Occurs as a result of marriage or defacto relations.

Step parent should act as a positive role model for the children.

Question 9

The roles of parents and carers

Answer 9

• Satisfying the specific needs of the dependent
• Building a positive relationship with the dependent
• Promoting the wellbeing of the dependent

Question 10

The roles of parents and carers

Satisfying the specific needs of the dependent

Answer 10

SHESEA

Parents are responsible for ensuring they do everything in their power to meet his or her needs.

PARENTING: Infants and children have specific needs such as being fed, bathed (ASL), vaccinations and immunisation (Health, safety and security)

CARING: The elderly may need extra attention as they may need specific needs such as administrating medication (Health, ASL)

If the parents and carers fail to meet the dependents needs their health and well being may deteriorate and may face complications.

Question 11

The roles of parents and carers

Building a positive relationship with the dependent

Answer 11

It is critical that the parents and anyone else who forms a close relationship with the dependent commits to the responsibility for promoting positive and supportive relationships.

If a child witness abuse and it becomes often they might start to believe it is normal which can affect their relationships with others.

To build positive relationship, parents and carers can show the dependent love.

Question 12

The roles of parents and carers

Promoting the well-being of the dependent

Answer 12

SPEECS

Parents and carers should help the dependent make a decision about the matters such as diet, physical activity, religion, spirituality, socializing and finances.

Parents and carers can promote wellbeing by ROLE MODELING to make correct life choices.
The dependents will more likely engage in healthy behaviors that can result in a sense of wellbeing.

Question 13

Preparations for becoming a parent

Answer 13

• Changing health behaviours
• Organising finances
• Modifying the physical environment
• enhancing knowledge and skills

Question 14

Preparations for becoming a parent

Changing health behaviours

Answer 14

Changing health behaviours includes changing or enhancing nutrition, physical activity, social and spiritual connections.

Parents and carers should ensure they are physically healthy, fit and energetic enough to cope with the new responsibilities they will face:

• Going to the doctors
• Taking folic acid
• Choosing between birthing options
• Avoiding cigarettes, alcohol and drugs
• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

This is to ensure that the dependents physical, emotional well-being are taken care of, therefore the dependent can live a happy and healthy life.

Question 15

Preparations for becoming a parent

Organising finances

Answer 15

Organising finances includes budgeting, saving and supporting payments to fund for themselves and the dependent.

Parents also have to meet the numerous cost associated with the baby in relation to food, shelter, comfort and stimulation.

They need to plan how to meet the cost and if necessary budget for them:

• Health insurance
• Government allowances
• Essential baby cost e.g. food, clothing.
• Center link for parents and carers.

Question 16

Preparations for becoming a parent

Modifying the physical environment

Answer 16

Modifying the physical environment includes changing the house arrangements or baby proofing areas to keep the dependent safe.

It can reduce the risks of injury and increase the independents.

This includes:

• Removing cluster to prevent tripping
• Keeping all medicines in a locked cabinet.
• Moving/covering light switches or power points.
• Designing a nursery or bedroom for the child.
• Moving or removing all breakable and dangerous appliances and furniture
• Making it appropriate for the dependent.

Question 17

The roles of parents and carers

Enhancing knowledge and skills

Answer 17

Enhancing knowledge and skills includes educating yourself and training to Increase productivity and performance.

It is also important for the parents/carers to educate themselves for the roles and responsibilities they are going to have to do when they have the dependent.

• Attend pregnancy classes
• Access sources
• Get to know the dependents background.

Question 18

Characteristics of the dependent

Answer 18

• Age
• Skills/capable
• Special needs

Question 19

Characteristics of the dependent

Age

Answer 19

The dependents age has a big impact on his/hers relationship with the parent/carer.

Age can being on rivalry between siblings (competition) which can either have a positive or negative impact on the relationship within a family.

The relationship between the dependent and parent/carer can develop and change throughout the different age/stages of the dependent.

Question 20

Characteristics of the dependent

Skills/capability

Answer 20

Depending on the dependents age, they might be able to assists their carers well being with their skills.
E.G. An older child might develop the capability to complete a variety of tasks in order to assist such as helping with the cooking.

However if the dependent is disabled, they may lack in skills and they would need extra support from their carer.