parenting int 2 10 dec 07 culture, nature & nurture and life events

PLANRegistration / R U O K ?What’s the point?Recap & Families so what?Considering Culture MnemonicNature ‘Presents’Or is it Nurture ?Big EventsWhere are we now?What have you learned?What’s next?

What’s the point ?

By the end of this session you will have a better understanding of:

Cultural influences on parenting

Nature or Nurture

Other circumstances influencing parenting

Let’s recap !Thinking back to last week, try to remember all the types of family structures that we explored.

1. ________2. ________3. ________4. ________5. ________6. ________

3 minutes

Family – so what ?

Last session we discussed advantages and disadvantages of family types.

Now, in groups, try to match up the advantages and disadvantages to the correct family structure.

5 minutes

Three Key Topics

Culture

Nature and Nurture

Life circumstances

Culture

What do we mean by culture ?

Culture is very difficult to define!

It involves:

• Beliefs• Language• Dress• Food• Music• Manners In what ways ?

Memory Trick

Bald Ladies Dance For Much Money

Now make your own and draw a picture for it.

Nature

A baby can be thought of as a ‘wee package’ of things inherited (passed on).

• Inside could be personality, intelligence, talent, health or a medical condition.

• On the outside is hair colour, length, weight, shape and colour.

Individual Activity – What’s arrived?

Hold your parcel– this symbolises a baby. It is a package of things inherited that we don’t know about yet.

Your tutor will now talk you through an individual activity to help you consider the effects of nature.

Packages and Presents

In groups

• Use the sheet provided to list the kinds of things babies could be born with that will affect their learning and development.

Theories of NatureSome people believe that adults are the types of people they are mainly because of nature. This idea also covers our behaviour ( not just the way our bodies are made).

Two interesting people to find out about are:

• Charles Darwin - survival of the fittest -evolution

• Chomsky – LAD

They have nature theories.

On the other hand …is it Nurture?Some people think it is what happens to us after we are born that makes us who we are.

Two interesting people to find out about are:

B. F. Skinner – rats pressing leversIvan Pavlov - dribbling dogs

They have ‘nurture’ theories.

Two by Two

Paired Activity

• First take a few minutes to reflect on how far your family, neighbourhood and school may have influenced you.

• Then share this with each other.

Nature or Nurture?

Activity 18 of your workbook asks :

‘What are your thoughts on

the nature/nurture debate?’

Write your opinion down (on page 102 of your workbook) and try to give reasons to back up your argument.

Big Events - Circumstances that affect family life …

Everyone experiences ups and downs in their life in response to important events and situations.

Take a minute to think about the kinds of situation that

have made you feel very negative e.g. sad, angry, frightenedhave made you feel very positive e.g. happy, excited, proud

Some circumstances that can affect children are …

• death (bereavement) of a parent, grandparent, brother, sister or pet.

• separation or divorce of parents• mother or father remarrying• a baby being born or adopted into family• long term illness• starting school or nursery• unemployment• domestic violence.

Group Activity

In your groups, complete the table provided with the possible effects on family and/ or children.

Some effects on the child are:

feeling insecure, may become ‘clingy’not able to sleepnot hungryeasily irritatednot able to learnmay want comforter more oftenmay start to wet the bed/their pants, having been dryarguing or fighting with friends, brother or sisters

Why?• These effects are seen because the child may have lost

confidence, self esteem may have suffered and their sense of security may also be affected. It is easy to underestimate children’s sensitivity to certain situations and/or changes in their life.

What can be done?• It is the parents’ job to try and re-establish their child’s

sense of security, so making these behaviours passing phases rather than a permanent feature. This can be done with patience, calmness, continued reassurance and understanding and above all by trying not to underestimate the length of time it may take for some children to accept certain changes in their lives.

Where are we now?

We have now covered the work for outcome 2

So we can do the activity 19 together (page 106)

Can you remember:– Three family structures?– What is a reconstituted family?– What is meant by culture?– What is meant by Nature?– What is meant by Nurture?

Have you any questions about:

Cultural influences on parenting

Nature or Nurture

Other circumstances influencing parenting

What have you learned ?

Use the sheet provided to tick if you agree that you understand more about:

Cultural influences on parenting

Nature or Nurture

Other circumstances influencing parenting

What’s next ?

Future steps:We will be concentrating on outcome three – investigate the support available to children and families from community and family

Homework:Typed description of the support from Health Care and from Education in the community available to parents (See forward plan for tips)Self test sheet

Thanks again guys