Chapter 9: Parenting and Prenatal and Early Childhood Development
Overview: What is parenting?
Parenting refers broadly to the activity of raising a child. It is not limited to the biological relationship; it covers all people who carry out parenting responsibilities, including:
biological parents
step-parents
adoptive parents
foster parents
other carers
Parenting requires meeting a child’s physical, emotional, social, and intellectual needs.
Before becoming a parent, considerations include:
relationship readiness
mental and physical health
financial security
Parents must adapt routines, make sacrifices, and manage long-term responsibilities.
Decision-making is often influenced by social norms, personal values, and life circumstances.
Changes in the role of parents over the last 50 years
Over the past 50 years, changing social factors have led to changes and challenges in how parents carry out their role. Key changes include:
more flexible work hours
more women in the full-time workforce and people working from home
different income and education levels
higher divorce and remarriage rates
single parenthood by choice
The role of parents is to understand and respond in an appropriate way to the needs and rights of a child from birth.
Adults thinking about becoming a parent must give consideration to:
changes in responsibility and their ability to meet the needs of a child
whether they can provide an environment that will promote optimal development
changes in relationships
whether they can cope with the additional stressors associated with parenthood
The role and mindset of parenting
The role of parents is to understand and respond in an appropriate way to the needs and rights of a child from birth.
Adults thinking about becoming a parent must give consideration to:
changes in responsibility and their ability to meet the needs of a child
whether they can provide an environment that will promote optimal development
changes in relationships
whether they can cope with the additional stressors associated with parenthood
Ethical and practical implications:
balancing personal life with the duties of child-rearing
prioritizing the child’s rights and welfare
preparing for potential changes in self-identity and family dynamics
Legal responsibilities of parents
Specifically, parents have a legal responsibility to:
protect their child from harm
provide their child with food, clothing and housing
financially support the child
provide safety, supervision and control
provide medical care
provide an education
These responsibilities establish a baseline of care that supports the child’s safety, health, and development and reflect society’s expectations for parental duties.
Lifestyle adjustments for pregnancy and early parenthood
Parenting involves a shift from personal freedom to responsibility.
Parents-to-be should adjust their lifestyle for a healthy pregnancy.
New parents may face:
relationship changes
increased duties
financial pressures
career adjustments
They might need to let go of past routines and prepare by:
saving money
attending parenting classes
deciding if one parent will stay home full time
Specific responsibilities of parents include:
Parents and caregivers provide resources and opportunities to meet the health and development needs of infants and children.
Page 5: Resources and opportunities for health and development
Parents and caregivers provide resources and opportunities to meet the health and development needs of infants and children.
Copy sub headings and one example
Note: The transcript on this page instructs to copy subheadings and one example, but the subheadings and the example are not provided in the given content.
Study questions (from Page 6)
Briefly explain what is parenting.
Identify 3 considerations before becoming a parent.
Identify 3 changes in role as a parent in the last 50 years.
Identify 4 legal responsibilities of a parent.
Connections to prior principles and real-world relevance
The material ties to foundational ideas about child development: meeting physical, emotional, social, and intellectual needs in a safe and stable environment.
Ethical implications include safeguarding the child’s rights, balancing parental autonomy with responsibilities, and preparing for the long-term impact of parenting decisions on child development.
Real-world relevance includes understanding how societal changes (work patterns, divorce rates, family structures) affect parenting roles and preparation for parenthood.