Intro to CHYS Week 6

Introduction to Child and Youth Studies Week 6 Review

What is a family?

Varies across and within communities, countries, and culture, usually provides emotional and material care to provide an environment where children are socialized and raised to maturity

Family as a source of (un)happiness

Sometimes children feel pressure to ‘do’ happy even if they do not feel like it, can be a great source of unhappiness

Family as a social system

Most important function is to socialize children, network of reciprocal relationships, parents influence children and children influence parents

Diversity of family types

Common law household with children are more than 4 times as likely to be step families — meaning blended families choose not to get remarried

Modern mothers

Still the primary caregivers, however an increasing number of women are working outside the home

Modern fathers

Generally more involved in childcare than in the past, their primary duty is providing for the family, the second duty is to act as a second caregiver

Modern grandparents

Contribute significantly to young childcare when they are in close proximity to families, considered vital in supporting children who have experienced parental separation

Transnational families

Families who live in different countries but create and retain a sense of collective welfare and unity even across national borders, especially overseas

Siblings

Highly significant, always there in close proximity, engage in ‘backstage behaviour’ — the things they get up to when no one is watching, don’t feel judged

Authoritative parenting

High levels of care and demandingness, high levels of mutual respect and trust

Children of Authoritative parenting

Higher levels of emotional stability, satisfaction, self confidence, self control, and perseverance

Authoritarian parenting

High level of demandingmness, low level of care — control behaviour through punishment and strictness

Children of Authoritarian parenting

Lower social skills, low self satisfaction and confidence, low initiative and commitment to goals, more introverted, issues of fear and mistrust, expressive aggressive behaviours when under pressure

Permissive parenting

High levels of care, low levels of demandingness, gentle and forgive easily — unable to set boundaries

Children of Permissive parenting

Adopt egocentric behaviour patterns, lack of impulse control, have limited respect towards others, show an inability to follow rules, exhibit poor social skills in terms of maintaining relationships

Dismissive/Uninvolved parents

Parents with no limits or warmth, do not care, makes few demands on mature behaviour, unavailable to support or guide the child

Children of Dismissive parents

Children fail to value themselves as a human, can’t develop limits, difficulty forming positive relationships with others, fail to develop trust, dramatic increase in antisocial behaviour