Family Studies ch 12:Raising Children, Promises and Pitfalls

Question 1

Parenting

Answer 1

Parenting is being with, involving, and teaching one’s children.
A two way street
Is it instinctive?

Question 2

Rewards and Difficulties of Parenting

Answer 2

Parenting can be rewarding—the most rewarding job you can ever have and be stressful and very daunting.

Social theorists cite role conflict and role strain to explain this give and take.
Unrealistic Role Expectations

Question 3

Decreased Authority

Answer 3

Parents believe they have lost some of authority in raising children

They also believe that they have increased responsibility

Question 4

Motherhood

Answer 4

The myth the motherhood comes naturally created problems.
Almost 66% of children under age 18 live with two employed parents. Nevertheless, mothers continue to do most of the child rearing and household duties.
About 70% of Americans say that mothers today have a more difficult parenting job than did mothers 20 or 30 years ago.
Generally, the greater the father’s participation in child rearing, the greater the mother’s satisfaction with her life.

Question 5

Fatherhood

Answer 5

Ideal versus Realistic Roles

Sociologist Kathleen Gerson
Breadwinner fathers
Autonomous fathers
Involved fathers

Question 6

Principals of Effective Parenting

Answer 6

Provide Sex Education
Express Confidence
Respond to Teen Years Creatively
Be realistic
Avoid Overindulgence
Keep in touch with Nature

Question 7

Parenting Variations

Answer 7

Parenting varies based on socioeconomic class and race in the United States.
In 2005, only 26% of Latino children ages 3-5 were read to daily, compared to 44% of white, black, and Asian children. 

There are also variations in outings with parents across race.

There may be several explanations for these differences—one may be marital status. For married couples these tasks may indeed be easier.

Question 8

Parenting and Social Class

Answer 8

There are many variations in parenting approaches across social classes in America. Social scientists typically use socioeconomic status (SES) when making these comparisons.
Low SES; living at or below their designated poverty level.
Parenting is more difficult for :
Low-SES, new immigrants, impoverished
The most vulnerable lower-SES families are those formed by adolesents.
Middle-SES have more resources to enhance child development which increases opportunities for stimulation
High-SES have more resources to spend on their children and their children’s development

Question 9

Single Parenting Issues

Answer 9

Single parent family_ one parent, other parent absent completely
Single parent household: one parent is primary, other parent has contact but lives in another house
At least half of all children will spend ¼ of their lives in a female-headed households
Challenges: meeting demands of parenthood with little help, meeting own adult emotional and sexual needs, fewer resources

Question 10

Parenting changes over the life course

Answer 10

Parent child relationships are important for positive growth and development of parents and children
Raising children from infancy to adulthood requires changes over time.

Parenting infants and babies require continuous care.

Most adolescents still want a close relationship with their parents, but they also want some independence.

Question 11

Parenting in later life

Answer 11

The majority of parents provide some form of help to at least one of their adult children including giving advice, assisting with child care, and helping out financially.
Some older Americans are being thrust into caregiving roles that they did not expect in their golden years.

Question 12

Empty Nest Syndrome

Answer 12

“Empty nest” refers to time when children leave home for college or to start a family of their own
Micro and macro reasons are spurring adult children to move back into their parents’ home- referred to as “accordion families” or “boomerang children.”

Question 13

Parenting in Lesbian and Gay Families

Answer 13

Nationally33 % of lesbian couples and 22% of gay male couples are raising children younger than 18-years-old.

In most respects, gay and lesbian families are like heterosexual families.

Question 14

Parenting Styles and Discipline

Answer 14

A parenting style is a general approach to interacting with and disciplining children.

Psychologists have identified 4 parenting styles:
Authoritarian
Permissive
Authoritative
Uninvolved

Question 15

Outcomes

Answer 15

Authoritative: best outcome
Authoritarian: moody, unhappy, easily annoyed children
Permissive: impulsive, aggressive, lack of self-control
Neglectful/uninvolved: worst outcome

Question 16

Approaches to Childrearing

Answer 16

Children are more accepting of consequences from parents who love them and who spend time playing with them.

Question 17

Child Care Arrangements

Answer 17

Many families rely on people outside of the family to watch the children.
One of the most serious problems facing today’s youth is absentee fathers—they are not only not there to care for their children, but they are also not there to help pay for child care.

Relying on others

Absentee fathers

Question 18

Latchkey kids

Answer 18

latchkey kid is a child who returns from school to an empty home because his or her parent or parents are away at work, or a child who is often left at home with little or no parental supervision.

Question 19

Current Social Issues and Children’s Well-Being

Answer 19

Today’s children are inundated with electronic media. Is this good for them?

Question 20

Children at Risk

Answer 20

On average, children watch 18,000 food ads on TV annually. Most ads are for candy, sugary food, or fast food.

Foster Care
The growth of poverty, child abuse, and parental neglect has increased children’s out-of-home placements or foster care.