Question

1. Define parenting and discuss the various influences of the macrosystem

(political ideology, socioeconomic status, parental occupation, culture, religion) on parenting.

2. Describe the chronosystem’s influences on child-rearing attitudes and family dynamics.

3. Discuss the microsystem and mesosystem influences on styles of parenting.

4. Identify developmentally appropriate and inappropriate parenting practices and discuss the issue of child abuse and maltreatment.

5. Discuss the issues of non-parental childcare in the context of the macrosystem,

chronosystem and mesosystem; and their influences on a child’s psychological,

social, and cognitive development.

6. Define parenting and discuss the various influences of the macrosystem

(political ideology, socioeconomic status, parental occupation, culture, religion) on parenting.

7. Describe the chronosystem’s influences on child-rearing attitudes and family

dynamics.

8. Discuss the microsystem and mesosystem influences on styles of parenting.

9. Identify developmentally appropriate and inappropriate parenting practices

and discuss the issue of child abuse and maltreatment.

10. Discuss the issues of non-parental childcare in the context of the macrosystem,

chronosystem and mesosystem; and their influences on a child’s psychological,

social, and cognitive development.

Answer 1

• 1. Parenting is defined as, "implementing a series of decisions about the socialization of your children-- what you do to enable them to become responsible, contributing members of society, as well as what you do when they cry, are aggressive, lie, or do not do well in school.
• Political ideology refers to theories pertaining to the government. It influences parenting because children must be raised to function as citizens in society. Usually the family will either be an autocracy, or a democracy.
• Autocracy is when one person has the power over everyone else in the family. Democracy is when there is shared power in the family based on consensus and compromise. Families become one of these types of families based on religious, national, cultural, and progressive influence.
• Socioeconomic status (SES) is another macrosystem that affects parenting. Families with low SES usually expect their children to listen, be respectful, and stay out of trouble. They are usually more of an authoritarian style and are more likely to use physical punishment. High SES families on the other hand, are more likely to encourage their children to be happy, creative, independent, and to have self-control. They are likely to have more of a democracy style and use reason and take into consideration their children's opinions. Not all high and low SES families fall directly in line with these assumptions, but parenting styles usually do differ.
• Culture and religion also play a large role in parenting. Parents that grew up in a religious home where foul language was not used and everyone dressed modestly and God was the center of their being would probably teach their children the same ways that they believe. Parents who grew up in a family where spanking what okay will probably spank their children if it is what they believe as well. Whatever the parents believe to be true and right either religiously, or culturally, will affect how they parent their children.
• 2.Tradition and religion, however still influenced some harsh child-rearing practices,  In the 19th century, psychologist G. Stanley Hall, much like Rousseau, believed that children need freedom and support from adults. Parenting was starting to become more child-centered in this century. However, parents were still at the center directing their children. There were also many books about parenting that evolved in this century. This century marked more growth in healthier strides towards positive parenting.
• Later in the 20th century a man name Benjamin Spock came about. He was about the child regulating their own schedule and developing at their own rate. He encouraged parents to be flexible with their child and have a better understanding of their child's wants and needs rather than their own. Towards the end of the 20th century, the spanking debate was faced. Professionals found that spanking a child only proved dominance of the adult and taught children to hit. Now, professionals such as emphasize parents to hold, love, and comfort their child because it is so important for the child to feel like they are loved. Spock, however realized that their needs to be somewhat of a balance.
• Children need to feel loved, yet their parents still need to have control over their behavior. This century marks the transition from parent-centered child-rearing practices, to child-centered child-rearing practices, to more of a balance between the two.
• 3.Bronfenbrenner' level, the mesosystem, describes how the different parts of a child's microsystem work together for the sake of the child.
• For example, if a child's caregivers take an active role in a child's school, such as going to parent-teacher conferences and watching their child's soccer games, this will help ensure the child's overall growth. In contrast, if the child's two sets of caretakers, mom with step-dad and dad with step-mom, disagree how to best raise the child and give the child conflicting lessons when they see him, this will hinder the child's growth in different channels.
• The microsystem is the most influential system because the child has direct interaction with these individuals; that interaction occurs on a consistent basis over an extended period of time (Brofenbrenner, 2004).
• Family is the most significant relationship of the microsystem; they play an intricate part in the ecological human development. The most time is spent at home with the family; they provide shelter and safety, and also provide emotional support for the child. The parent for example, interacts with the child on a daily basis, they provide a safe and healthy relationship and an environment for them to grow and prosper.
• The parenting style a child receives paves the way in their ability to communicate with others, their self-esteem, and the attitude and behaviors they exude.
• The main parenting styles are authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, and non-involved.
• The authoritarian parent is strict and demanding; this creates a child that grows up to behave withdrawn, fearful, and distrustful of others.
• On the opposite end of the spectrum is the permissive parent. The child raised in a permissive household is more likely to be aggressive, impulsive, and have little self-reliance. The healthy balance between the two styles is the authoritative parent who raises a content, cooperative, and self-reliant child. The parent gives the child the ability to create secure attachments with others and to have a healthy and positive disposition. The emotional connectivity of this relationship is a direct reflection of a child's ability to connect and communicate with all other systems.
• Due to time constraints,the rest of the questions can be answered in another question.