In this course, you will be asked to complete three journal assignments in which you reflect on “raising” a teen from birth through age 18 years. In these assignments, you will be required to reflect on your readings and personal experiences as you consider the unique challenges of three different developmental stages: ages birth to 10 years, ages 10 to 14 years, and ages 14 to 18 years. Imagine yourself as a parent of a child. You will raise your child from birth through age 18. As you read the course materials, you should imagine (and even keep notes about) scenarios that illustrate the concepts and theories in the readings and how they “connect” with the child you are raising.
For this week let us consider parenting from birth to 10 years and let us also consider culture. Put yourself in the role of the parent. Imagine many scenarios for parenting at these ages. At mealtimes, your kids are being “fussy eaters,” which is something the French typically don’t cater to, instead serving children the same meals they themselves eat. How about bedtimes? What time does your child go to bed? Do you have set bedtimes? In Argentina, parents let children stay up until 10:00 p.m. so they can participate more fully in family life (Bernstein, 2016). And do you let your first grader walk home from school by themselves? Japanese parents often let 7-year-olds ride the subway by themselves. A cultural norm of group reliance means that Japanese parents can depend on other members of the community to keep their children safe (Hoy, 2015). As you raise your child, it is clear that you have many aspects of their lives to consider. For this journal entry, consider—from your readings and from your own experiences—the challenges of raising a child from birth to 10 years and the cultural influences in their development.
Specifically, answer the following questions:
- How does culture have an impact on your child as he or she begins the journey into adolescence?
- How is this impact similar to or different from your own experiences?
- As a child, where were you raised and which cultural group most influenced your development?
- How did these influences shape your adolescence and emerging adulthood?
REFERENCES:
Bernstein, R. (2016). Parenting around the world: Child-rearing practices in different cultures. https://www.tuw.edu/health/child-rearing-practices-different-cultures/
Hoy, Selena. (2015, September 28). Why are little kids in Japan so independent? Bloomberg News. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-28/in-japan-small-children-take-the-subway-and-run-errands-alone#:~:text=Parents%20in%20Japan%20regularly%20send,a%20task%20for%20their%20family
