Essay on Family and parenting

  1. 1.      Please identify three different definitions of the concept of parenting and discuss the similarities and differences in how each author defines the term.

There are many definitions of parenting exist.  Parenting is defined by its general characteristics such as behaviors, knowledge, beliefs, and expectations.  In addition, there are forces that influence the parenting, for instance: employment, social status, culture, environment, and history.  There are also various kinds of parents (such as mothers and fathers, single, adolescent, and adoptive parents and practical concerns about it. (Bornstein, 2002)

The first definition of the parenting is the fowling:  it is the rearing of a child or children, especially the care, love, and guidance given by a parent. (Galinsky, 1987)

Bornstein (2002) provides his own definition of parenting: “is a challenging and extremely important job whose primary object of attention and action is the child.” (Bornstein, 2002)  Another definition of parenting is the following: ”˜it is an act or process of becoming a parent’. (Galinsky, 1987)

These three definitions of parenting concept deal with the different aspects of parenting, they d no contradict each other. Why are they different? Because parenting is still a mystifying subject for people, even despite the fact that most people become parents and everyone who has ever lived has had parents. (Bornstein, 2002)

There are many debates about goals of parenting as well. Parenting is aimed to provide for a child’s physical needs and suggest a protection from any possible danger. In addition, parents also have to teach their children needed social skills and cultural values. The nature of parenting is disputable too. For example, is parenting a natural things or people have to learn parenting?

            2. Please explain in detail how the family and parenting can be viewed from a systems perspective. Please be sure to address all the components of Family Systems Theory and give examples where each of these components can be illustrated.

According to Rosen, Ujiie, and Uchida (2002) the Family Systems Theory is focused on family dynamics. It includes ”˜structures, roles, communication patterns, boundaries, and power relations.’  (Rosen, Ujiie, and Uchida, 2002) As for the parenting, this theory is rather focused on adults and their functioning. In addition, it is often based on case studies.

As for the components of Family Systems Theory, first of all they include the characteristics of the child with disability.  As an example of the importance of this component the following circumstances could be appropriate: the family mobility (physical activities) may be limited by the child with a disability.  Fr instance, it could be hard for such family to do walking in the country side.

The next important component is the characteristics of the family because the family members may serve as a good example and have a positive influence over the child’s development. For instance, the parents may assist their child, who has a disability, in swimming activities, and would make the whole family enjoy their swimming activities.

The third component of the present theory is the characteristics of each family member. These characteristics are the strengths and weaknesses within that person.  This component may be illustrated by the involvement of the competitive spirit. As a result, a child with disability may feel the competitive spirit and become more physically active if this child is a member of a sport-oriented family.

The final component of Family Systems Theory is ”˜special needs impacting on reactions to the child’s disability’. (Kozub, 2001) This component includes economics, marital status. It also features the physical support. It is also important to note that the reaction of other siblings in the family with disabled child who is always in the centre of parents’ attention. As an example of it, the situation with a girl and her older brother. This little girl was involved in a number of early childhood programs that exclusively served children with disabilities. She also participated in a swimming program. Her brother wondered why he was not allowed to swim like his sister. This situation became a problem because as it appears the girl with disability received more attention from her parents and participated in physical activity program; at the same time her brother was not involved in it and felt that he is excluded from that fun activity. But the situation is likely to change when these children get older, because then the brother may start to participate in various youth sport programs but his sister probably will not be able to participate at the brother’s level.



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