considerations when becoming a parent Flashcards
rights of the child
children have the right to…
- live a full life
- good quality healthcare, clean water, nutritious food and a clean environment
- a standard of living that is good enough to meet their physical and mental needs
- relax, play and to join in a wide range of leisure activities
- reliable information from the media, mass media should provide that information that children can understand and should not promote materials that could harm children
considerations
- can a childs needs be met?
- can an environment that will promote the optimal development of the child be provided?
- are the changes that parenting will bring acceptable?
considerations when becoming a parent (branches)
- responsibilities (childs needs, lifestyle changes, environment for optimal development)
- support (social and emotional)
- resources (time, money, knowledge, material resources, government)
federal govt resource (medicare)
- subsides and pays for medical services
- expectant mothers have access to cheaper prenatal services
medicare (h&w)
- cheaper check ups mean they’re more likely to visit a doctor and catch any complications during pregnancy, allowing the mother and baby to be free of disease or injury (physical)
- by covering the costs of medical care, medicare can reduce levels of stress and anxiety about money for expectant parents (mental)
state govt resource (maternal child health app)
- provides reliable information for parents and carers
- assists them in finding useful contacts
maternal child health app (h&w)
- having easy access to reliable information and doctors can relieve the stress of new parents
local govt resources
- immunizations for infants
- parent support programs (mothers group etc)
immunisations (h&w)
- decrease the risk of babies contracting diseases (physical)GIVE AN EXAMPLE
- for babies: whooping cough, polio, tetanus,
- for children: flu, hpv, diptheria
- by vaccinating their children, the parents could be less stressed about the child contracting a disease (mental)
parent support programs (h&w)
- you are in a group with other parents going through similar things who all support each other and build friendships with each other (social)
- parents are less isolated as they are leaving their house to meet up with other people (social)
- hearing from other parents about their experiences could decrease their stress levels as they learn from other peoples experiences
parenting
the process of promoting the physical, emotional, social and intellectual development and health and wellbeing of a child from birth to adulthood
can a childs needs be met?
- physical: nutritious food, saftey, adequate housing and sleeping conditions, access to healthcare
- social: socialisation, provide love, attention, confidence, opportunities for interaction, achievement and indepence
- emotional: create emotional security and stability for children
- intellectual: learning, communication and skill development, creating opportunities for problem solving, learning and understanding
can an environment that will promote optimal development be provided?
need to consider:
- the level of support available to them from friends, family and the community
- what resources they have to provide for a child’s needs
social support
- money
- babysitters
- help with meal prep
- care of other children
- sharing of information
- assistance with transport
- help with household tasks
grandparents are a great source w sharing their own experiences
social support (h&w)
- parents with higher levels of social support are better at coping with stress and be more resilient (mental)
- women who receive strong social support during pregnancy may be protected from increases in stress hormones, making them less likely to experience post partum depression (emotional)
- having other people in the child life who show affection, praise and warmth strengthens the child trust and emotional security (supportive family), increases their independence
emotional needs of new parents
- fears about their parenting skills
(leads to stress) - regret at losing a lifestyle that may have more independence
- lack of sleep
- recovering from birth
- juggling care for other children
- top concern during pregnancy is that something was ‘wrong’ with their baby
- for a week after birth, 80% of mothers will experience the baby blues, which is brought on by hormonal changes after childbirth
emotional support
- other people can offer support through encouragement, active listening and reassurance
- people sharing ideas and advice in a non-judgemental way can increase self-esteem and resilience for parents
benefits of support (h&w)
parents who are well-supported are:
- better able to provide for their child’s needs
- feel less stressed
- better able to relate to their child
- make good decisions and model good behaviour
(all positive to the child’s mental h&w)
children whose needs are met and have strong social and emotional skills are more likely to grow into adults who have stronger social and emotional h&w and will be effective parents for their own children
knowledge as a resource
- health literacy can increase the probability of parents caring for themselves in order to benefit the unborn baby
- those who are health literate are more likely to:
- access healthcare
- consume nutritious food
- not smoking
- avoiding alcohol and drugs and certain foods
- parents education also increases employment opportunities which increases the ability to generate an adequate income, which can be used for resources (food, water, healthcare, shelter)
material resources
- household income may decrease as carers withdraw from the workforce either to recover from birth or to care for the child
- household income may increase as they might be eligible for family assistance
- new costs during and after pregnancy:
- doctor and hospital bills, scans and medical tests
- maternity clothes
- baby clothes and equipment
- childcare whether it is provided by family or childcare centres
