Respond to discussion 610

Britany Collins 

Raising a Child

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Caring for a child is no easy job. The process often begins before the child is even actually born. Once a child is born, within those first eight weeks, both boys and girls experience a surge of either testosterone or estrogen, which in turn will shape the rest of their lives (Dobson, 2010). From this point forward, everything that parents do prepares their child for the outside world will have a significant impact on that child and their self-confidence. Some protective factors that parents can put in place are instilling morals and values into their children when they are young. Provers 22:15 states that “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him” (English Standard Version). This scripture shows that children do not have discipline or morals when they are young. It is the parent’s job to teach them the values and morals that will help them make informed decisions when faced with societal pressures.

            For example, beauty and the pressure to look like what is on TV, social media, and magazines play a massive role in the lives of young girls. According to Dr. Dobson (2010), he shares how there has been an increase in the number of anorexic and bulimic young girls. Societal standards of beauty and images on social media are pressuring young girls to try to be something they are not, and this is especially damaging to young girls who lack the self-confidence to know their worth. Parents that are raising a healthy child should be aware of a few different things. First, the primary way a child can learn to love themselves and build a healthy sense of self-worth is if their parents provide positive affirmations, uplift them, and spend time with them, especially while they are young. Second, the best way for a child to learn from their parents is by exposure and imitation (Dobson, n.d.). If parents expose their kids to God, love, and a healthy home environment, then that child will more than likely imitate those same actions in their life.

            A few conditions that are needed for the healthy development of a child is both a mother and father that is loving, encouraging, and supportive, as well as a home environment that promotes positivity and faith. Raising a child does not come with a manual. Many parent’s techniques come from what they saw their parents do or from trying new things out for the first time. Intergenerational parenting has shown that parents who experienced caring relationships with their parents growing up caused them to adjust to parenting more natural where they had high confidence levels, empathy, and safety (Roncallo, Barreto, & De Miguel, 2018).

            In today’s day and time, some risk factors can come from not establishing values in the home and becoming consumed in work to the point your child is not the main priority. Having values in the home can teach children respect, responsibility, and discipline. Proverbs 22:6 states, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it” (ESV). Teaching a child right from wrong and starting the foundation of faith while they are young can influence how they lead a life later. No matter how many challenges they may come across, they will always have the platform their parents established to help guide them.

References

Dobson, J (n.d.). DBPC 610 Week three: Teaching our children to work [video]. Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University.

Dobson, J. (2010). Bringing up girls: Practical advice and encouragement for those shaping the next generation of women. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House.

Roncallo, C. P., Barreto, F. B., & de Miguel, M. S. (2018). Promotion of child development and health from the perinatal period: An approach from positive parenting. Early Child Development and Care, 188(11), 1540-1552. doi:10.1080/03004430.2018.1495630

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