How the Family can Cope After Having a Child Diagnosed with a Terminal Illness By Hayley Jankowski

Having a child who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness can not only take a toll on the child, but also the rest of the family. Life can get very challenging when there is a sick child in the family. Knowing the ins and outs of the child’s illness, what the child needs, and what the rest of the family needs can make this tough time a little more manageable. Among many other things, making a positive environment for the child and helping them, and the rest of the family keep hope is vital (Smith, 2014).

When you’re going through something as dark and painful as having a terminally ill child, it is crucial that you find something positive in every day, because you don’t know which day could be your child’s last. In an article I read called, “Caring for a Terminally Ill Child: A Guide for Parents” they suggest keeping the child’s life as normal as possible. For example, if he/she is well enough to continue to go to school let them or if they have to miss school for a long period of time ask the teacher to have the class write your child letters. Doing this allows for your child to be able to communicate with his or her friends and classmates, normalizing their illness. Another thing you can do to help make their illness less negative is to encourage them to set goals for themselves. These could be as small as getting out of bed once a day, or as big as going for a walk after a round of chemo (Caring for A Terminally Ill Child, 2015).

You may feel like you need to give your child everything or let them get away with whatever they want because they’re sick and you feel guilty, but that is the exact opposite of what you should do. If you are trying to find a happy balance of parenting, I have the answer to that balance, it’s called authoritative parenting. Authoritative parenting is when the parent has high levels of communication and warmth for the child, but they also have high expectations of behavior from the child. This style of parenting is the best option because it allows you to identify with your child while still having compassion for them. It allows the child to know that nothing has changed just because they’re sick, they still have the same rules and expectations they had before they were diagnosed.  Authoritative parenting also helps the rest of the children in the family so they don’t feel like there is any special treatment for the child that is sick. This ensures everyone still has the same rules and expectations.

Another difficult part about having a sick child, is balancing the sick childacross a journal article called, “Parents’ Experience of Living with a Child with a Long-Term Condition: A Rapid Structured Review of Literature” don’t  let the title scare you, it’s an easy read. This article gives on how to normalize a busy family with a sick child. Studies have shown that breaking the family into two subunits makes life a little more manageable. Having one parent look after the child with the long-term illness and the other parent look after the needs of the other children actually helps strengthen the family  because everyone is on the same page and communicating effectively. This is also known as a family subsystem. A family subsystem occurs by breaking up the family into smaller groups. This helps to let everyone know their role, which leads to better communication. To avoid an individual parent not being able to spend time with the sick child or the other children, they can switch weekly with which children they are responsible for. Therefore, all of the children get the same amount of time with both parents. Families with children are very busy and it can get difficult to find time for the whole family to spend together. Having a sick child with their appointments and hospitalizations makes it that much harder for families to spend time together. By setting time aside each week for the whole family to do an activity, go out to dinner, or just watch a movie together will allow the whole family to spend time with each other. This will also maximize the amount of time everyone gets to spend with their sick child or sibling, which will create nice memories for everyone to have once their loved one passes. (Smith, Cheater, and Baker, 2012).

 

Sources

 

Caring for a Terminally Ill Child: A Guide for Parents. (2015, November 23). Retrieved March 20, 2017, from http://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/advanced-cancer/caring-terminally-ill-child-guide-parents

Smith, H. (2014). Giving hope to families in palliative care and implications for practice. Nursing Children & Young People, 26(5), 21-25.

Smith, J., Cheater, F., & Bekker, H. (2015). Parents’ experiences of living with a child with a long-term condition: a rapid structured review of the literature. Health Expectations, 18(4), 452-474.

Image of Sick Child by tiverylucky at http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/Children_g112-Sick_Children_p166531.html

Fathers Matter By Katelynne Hansen

Did you know that a child’s well-being could be affected by the quality and quantity of father involvement? Some people believe that fathers are just the breadwinners of the family and they should solely focus on work while mothers should put all of their focus on the family. Americans said they believe a father today should be more of a “moral teacher and emotional comforter” than someone who brings home a paycheck or disciplines a child for acting out (Wallace 2015). That statement is absolutely correct! Fathers are extremely noticeable figures their children’s lives and it is very important that fathers are involved in a more hands on way! I am here to explain to you why father involvement is so important and how absence of fathers could impact your child greatly! Starting as early as birth research shows that children who have fathers that are more involved in their lives are more secure emotionally and they are more likely to discover new surroundings as well as have a better chance of being social with their peers as they get older. Children who have involved fathers are less likely to get into trouble at home as well as at school (What Research Says, 2016). Involved fathers bring positive benefits to their children that no other person is as likely to bring. This proves that involved fathers have a direct impact their children’s well-being in a positive way.

In the Journal of Marriage and Family, the author explains “closeness to fathers makes a unique contribution to offspring happiness, life satisfaction and psychological distress” (Amato, 1994, p1031). Studies show that in those 3 measures of psychological well-being the closer to the fathers the children were the happier, more satisfied, and less distressed they reported being.  Research has also shown that when contact with fathers is infrequent and irregular that usually leads to feelings of rejection and lower self-esteem in children (Ferstenberg, Morgan, Allison, 1987 p696).  It’s obvious that the research strongly suggests having involved fathers. Not only do involved fathers bring benefits to their children, they bring many benefits to the mothers as well as themselves. In a parenting class that I took I learned that father participation was related to higher self-esteem, less parenting stress, less depression, higher family cohesion, and greater social support and that was shown in both fathers and mothers.  For men father-child relationships can possibly influence work, status, health, moral beliefs, personality, and biology. Another thing I learned in the parenting class that I took is that the most significant factor dealing with martial satisfaction is the quality of father-child relationships. So fathers, not only is being involved having a great impact on your child, it is impacting you and the mother of your child greatly as well!

Some fathers fail to take responsibility for their children and don’t realize how much not being involved can affect a child’s social life, self-esteem, behavior, education and many other aspects of their well-being. All in all, it is very important for fathers to be involved in their children’s life and build a close relationship with them!

 

References

Fathers: What Research Says. (2016, April 21). Retrieved February 16, 2017, from             http://firstthings.org/fathers-what-research-says/

Amato, P. R. (1994). Father-child relations, Mother-child relations, and offspring psychological well-being in early adulthood. Journal of Marriage and the        Family, 56(4), 1031-1042.

Furstenberg, F. F., Morgan, S. P., & Allison, P. D. (1987). Paternal participation and        children’s well-being after marital dissolution. American Sociological Review,           52(5), 695-700.

Picture taken by Amy Hansen. All right reserved.

Wallace, K. (2017) Do modern dads get enough credit? CNN.

Drug Use and Parenting In Contemporary Society By Evan Davis

There are a lot of Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to being a parent. Some are obvious although that doesn’t make their execution any easier. Basic things like providing food, shelter, and love can be disrupted by external factors. Some may argue that the mother-child relationship is the most impactful relationship any child will have. The specific hindrance I will be discussing today is the use of drugs and alcohol by mothers. “During periods of active addiction, it is more difficult for the mother to provide a safe and growth-promoting environment for her child” (Polansky, Litzke, Coulter, Sommers & Lauterbach, 2006). For my research, I read one study that examined attachment based parenting for a group of mothers with drug and or alcohol addiction. Within the study it is mentioned that even in periods of sobriety the mother-child relationship can still suffer. Resentments and previous traumas still present themselves despite the elimination of the use of drugs (Polansky et al., 2006). I related to this heavily because my mother suffers from drug addiction. Even during times when she was clean I still harbored resentment for things she had done in the past. The study conducted focused on the relationship of the mother to their own mother and how that then affected their relationship to their child. Within the study the group of women who were participating were asked to self-report. They used clinical interviews, which we discussed in class. This means face-to-face interviews with an unstructured set of questions related to the same theme. This allows for the conversation to go off script. However it might not allow for everyone to answer the same questions. The researches stressed this communication because as children the mothers might not have felt safe expressing their experiences. By addressing these traumatic issues from childhood it helps mothers reflect on their parenting styles and how they can change these for the better.

 

This research went hand in hand with another study that used a survey to examine the family experiences of narcotic addicts and their parent practices as a result of their addictions. Similarly to the first study, participants were asked to reflect first on their own childhood and then how those practices were implemented into their own parenting styles. It was discovered that “children (of addicts) are at increased risk for developmental problems in social, emotional, and health-related areas” (Nurco, Blatchley, Hanlon, O’Grady, & McCarren, 1998.). Mothers also identified their adaptation was low when it came to the child’s needs. We have stressed in class that adaptation is one of if not the most important part of parenting. As children grow and mature their needs change so therefore parenting styles and techniques must also evolve. I recalled times when my mother prioritized getting high over my well-being. Her lack of adaptation caused disturbances within our household. I would classify her as a permissive indulgent parent. Although we did talk, it was mostly as “friends.” She didn’t really care what I did or whom I was with as long as it didn’t interfere with her laying in bed for 10 hours a day. An article about the effects of parental drug use on children. As I read through the list it sounded all too familiar. In particular when the author said “Children that have parents who are addicted to drugs and alcohol have a home environment which is ruled by chaos and insecurity.” (Powers, 2016). The article also discussed how children detach themselves from their parent because of lack of trust. While I attended high school I went through this process of detachment after my mothers multiple relapses, DUI’s, and suicide attempts. Ultimately my research has helped me to realize that this issue is not one I suffer alone. It is an extremely prevalent issue in American society today. It is clear that drugs and alcohol are a huge hindrance on the mother child relationship, which is arguably the most important relationship in anyone’s life.

 

References

Gill, Jean (2013) “Bad role model mother with daughter” [Digital Image]. Freeimages.com

Gevert, Helmut (2003) “Mother needing silence”[Digital Image]. Freeimages.com

Nurco, D., Blatchley, R., Hanlon, T., O’Grady, K., McCarren, M., (1998) The family experiences of narcotic addicts and their subsequent parenting practices. American Journal of Drug & Alcohol Abuse. 24, 1.

Polansky, M., Lauterbach, W., Litzke, C., Coulter, B., & Sommers, L., (2006) A qualitative study of an attachement-based parenting group for mothers with drug addction: On being and having a mother. Journal of Social Work Practice. 20, 2.

Powers, Tim. (2016). Understanding the devastating effects of parental drug addiction on children, Sober Nation. Retrieved from https://sobernation.com/understanding-the-devastating-effects-of-parental-drug-addiction-on-children/

 

 

Breastfeeding-Addesyn Nailor

Breastfeeding provides many health benefits for infants, mothers, and families.

Providing infants with breast milk or formula has been a controversy for quite some time now. There are many different views and opinions about this topic, and I hope I can be in some assistance to help educate readers why breast milk is a great advantage to provide to infants, mothers, and families. Wonder why breastfeeding is the best choice no more readers. Here are 5 major reasons why breastfeeding is the way to go!

1. The money. Formula costs outrageous amounts of money for families. Breastfeeding is cost-effective. Families who breastfeed are not paying any money to feed their infant because the mother is able to supply the milk and all of the nutrients the infant needs on her own. Instead, the money that would be used on formula and bottles can go elsewhere if need be.
2. Mothers who breastfeed typically have better health outcomes. A mother who breastfeeds is less likely to have post-partum depression than a mother who formula feeds. Mothers who breastfeed typically have less post-partum blood loss. Breastfeeding mothers have a 28% less likely chance of having breast cancer if they breastfeed for longer than 12 months. Child abuse and neglect is increased for mothers who do not breastfeed (Eidelman, 2012). So, not only does the infant receive great advantages, so do mothers! As I have recently learned in a parenting class I am taking in college, a child’s well-being reflects a ton off of their mother’s well-being and psychological state. I am sure we all have heard of the saying “happy wife, happy life” well we can say the same for babies/children! “Happy mom, happy baby.”
3. Obesity has been on the rise in our society for quite some time now. It is a fact that breastfed babies have significantly lower rates of obesity than formula fed babies. There is a 15-30% decrease in obesity rates in adolescents if there was any sort of breastfeeding as an infant (Eidelman, 2012). Babies who are breastfed have a better sense of self-regulation and know when their stomachs are full and when they should stop eating (Zuckerbrot, 2012). Another concept I have learned about in my parenting class is having better self-regulation and a sense of when their stomachs are full, the babies will develop trust in their natural instincts and know when to quit eating. Giving infants human milk instead of formula fed milk has led to lower blood pressures as adults as well (Eidelman, 2012).
4. Breastmilk has made a significant difference in infants born preterm. Feeding preterm infants human milk leads to less hospital returns after the first year of being discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit lower long term growth failure, and neurological disabilities. Preterm infants who received a vast supply of breastmilk had outstanding scores at the ages 18-30 months for mental, behavioral, and motor skills (Eidelman, 2012).
5. Breastfeeding reduces the risk of your baby getting certain diseases, infections and diarrhea. The different diseases and infections breastfeeding helps fight against are, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, allergic disease, diabetes, gastrointestinal tract infections, respiratory tract infections, and otitis media (Pound, 2012). By breastfeeding newborns and infants, the amount of hospital and doctor visits most babies make will be decreased, and that also leads back to my saving money reason.

For all the mothers and families out there, these five major reasons are reason enough to consider breastfeeding your infant. Breastfeeding is a commitment but it is worth the time!

 

References

Breastfeeding, Section On. “Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk.” Pediatrics. American Academy of Pediatrics, 01 Mar. 2012. Web. 18 Apr. 2017.

Pound, C. M., & Unger, S. L. (2012). The baby-friendly initiative: Protecting , promoting and supporting breastfeeding. Pediatrics & Child Health (1205-7088), 17(6), 317-321.

Zuckerbrot, T. (2012, August 3). Benefits of breastfeeding.

Paternity Leave – By Megan Cosgrove

We are probably all familiar with the term, “maternity leave.” Mom carries baby for nine strenuous months, endures the grueling pains of child birth, and in most countries, receives time off work to nurture and bond with her new child. This makes sense because women tend to carry the overwhelming responsibility for managing the household and caring for children. In a lecture class, we learned that the division of household labor is not equal between mothers and fathers. Nor is it even close. In fact, women increase their household work load by five times while father only double theirs after the birth of a child! Six months after giving birth, mothers are doing even more than they expected to be doing and fathers are doing even less than they expected. Historically speaking, mothers have been the primary caretakers of children, but is history shifting? Are more men taking paternity leave and is there a stigma in the workplace because of it?

According to a study done, paternity leave has grown, rising from 5,800 men taking leave in 1994, to 22,000 men taking leave in 2015 (Zagorsky, 2017). Based on the research conducted in this study, 14% of all men with a new child took paternity leave compared to the 54% of men that took paternity leave in 2015. Clearly, men are accepting their time off work to care and bond with their child. This is exceptional because father participation is crucial in the development of the child and marital satisfaction. Father participation not only results in less parenting stress, but higher marital satisfaction, higher self-esteem, and greater social support.  In fact, most women found that when their spouse spent quality time with their children, it increased marital satisfaction and cut down the labor division tension.

But is there a stigma with men temporarily exempting themselves from the workplace to care for their children? In the harshly corporate world I was surprised to find out that in most cases, no; in some countries, men were encouraged and even given incentives to stay home with their new child. Based on an article, fathers in France are entitled to either parental leave, or the option to work part-time for a minimum of 16 hours per week (Sanchez-Salcido, 2013). Not only do these fathers receive a leave, but they have the option of extending the one year leave twice until the child turns three years old. This leave can also be further extended in the event of the child becoming ill, accident, or severe disability of the child. According to a news article from the Huffington Post, paternity leave policies in Costa Rica are one of the measures that is most effective at increasing gender equality in the workplace, since it enables fathers to get involved with family responsibilities from the very start (F., 2016). Studies have also found that offering men paternity leave aids in company success. When men are allowed paid time off to care for their child, they tend to be more loyal to the company.

Paternity leave is on the rise and for a good reason. Father involvement is an essential part of child development. Children need their fathers. I can certainly say, I am pleased to see society and corporate America finally moving in the right direction by allowing childcare duties to be shared between mother and father.

References

(2016, July 07). What Does Paternity Leave Have to Do with a Company’s Success Retrieved April 23, 2017, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/fomin/what-does-paternity-leave_b_10864114.html

      “Happy Young Family, The Adorable Three” [Digital Image]. (2012, November 11). Stock Images, Freedigitalphotos.net.

Sanchez- Salcedo, E. V. (2013). On Paternity Leaves and Parental Leaves- The Dilemma over “Daddy Days”. DLSU Business & Economics Review, 84-92. Retrieved April 20, 2017.

Zagorsky, J. L. (2017). Divergent Trends in US Maternity and Paternity Leave, 1994–2015. American Journal of Public Health, 107(3), 460-465. doi:10.2105/ajph.2016.303607

 

Co-Sleeping – By Becky Nordmeyer

Are you torn between wanting to cuddle with your child and wanting your own space in the bed? You are not alone. There are many parents that co-sleep with their child. The real question is whether or not this is an advantage or disadvantage to the child’s psychological growth.

Co-sleeping, when a child participates in bed sharing with one or more of his or her parents, has various views.  In America, we tend to think that having our children sleeping with us is bad. Opposite from these beliefs, the Japanese value co-sleeping and practice it as a norm. The American culture has an individualistic perception, which leads to parents encouraging their children to sleep independently. The individualistic approach can have an effect on the co-sleeping practices because those who follow the individualistic belief are concerned that the child will become too dependent and antisocial (Arnett & Maynard, 2013). Contrary to that, Japan has a collectivist culture that advocates spending a lot of time with society and putting the community before the individual (Arnett & Maynard, 2013). Due to the lack of space that Japanese families have in their homes, not all of the family members can have their own room, which results in co-sleeping (Iwata, Iwata, & Matsuishi, 2013).

Part of our collectivist culture, as Americans, shows through in co-sleeping because some parents believe if the child is left to sleep alone, they are being ignored and undervalued (Arnett & Maynard, 2013). On account of the sleeping traditions in the Japanese culture, there has been some research conducted and analyzed. As a result of this research, there appears to be more psychological advantages to co-sleeping than disadvantages.

Most importantly, co-sleeping forms a healthy secure base and children are able to gain an emotional attachment (Arnett & Maynard, 2013). For a child to attain these attachments with the parents, the child is able to develop cognitively and have a confident feel for the world. The child wants the secure base in order to have a sense of support (Arnett & Maynard, 2013). By being close to the parents during the night, there is a mentality of comfort while sleeping (Shimizu, Park, & Greenfield, 2014).

As learned in class, John Bowlby’s Attachment Theory includes the idea that attachment is adaptive. Infants need to form attachments in order to survive because it draws the child to their caregiver and it also makes the parent want to take care of their child in return. When there is a secure attachment, children feel comfortable with exploring the world; still knowing in the back of their mind that a parent is close enough if they become frightened by something. Co-sleeping is also seen in Baumrind’s Parenting Dimensions because sharing a bed or room provides nurturance for the child. There is warmth, concern and involvement present for the child. These characteristics are also seen with the authoritative parenting style, which means that parents have a proper amount of expectations when it comes to their children while still maintaining a level of warmth and open communication.

Moreover, an attachment can be developed through the mother breast-feeding her child (Arnett & Maynard, 2013).  In that case, while co-sleeping, the mother can be more accessible through the night (Shimizu et al, 2014). Children get breast-fed more often because they are close to the mother, and the more the child is breast-fed, the higher his or her nutrients level will be. The child can also build a stronger immune system when breast-fed recurrently (Arnett & Maynard, 2013).

These are just some of the basic advantages to co-sleeping, but that’s not all. Shimizu, Park, and Greenfield studied co-sleeping in the Japanese culture. They looked at the effect of children sharing a room with his or her parents and whether or not they were in arms length of each other. For those who were close by, the research shows co-sleeping leads to less anxiety for the child when sleeping (Shimizu et al, 2014). This idea relates to the attachment figure being a safe and reliable caregiver. The child is able to sleep peacefully while co-sleeping because they are aware of their surroundings.

There are a few disadvantages to co-sleeping as well. Specifically, in the short run, sleeping together makes both the parents and children feel tired during the day. This is because movement from the child or parent disturbs the sleep of the other individual. Iwata, Iwata, and Matsuishi (2013) conducted a study that examined the physical behaviors during sleep. The participants wore an actigraph watch, which monitored their sleep patterns. The results found that more than half of the participants indicated that their sleep was satisfying. The others were determined to have a sleep disorder (Iwata et al, 2013). Nevertheless, those unsatisfied with their sleep say this because they do not feel as if they got a full night sleep. That feeling is a result of the movement of the others sleeping around them (Iwata et al, 2013).

In the end, the relationship between co-sleeping and the psychological impact on children is strong. There are more advantages than disadvantages when it comes to sharing a room or bed. Throughout the American culture and Japanese culture, there should not be a difference in the sleeping norm because as a result of the research, co-sleeping cannot harm an individual’s development. The benefits to co-sleeping include less anxiety for the child, a secure attachment figure to be discovered and relied upon, and self-esteem rises for the child when in a comfortable and safe sleeping space. Co-sleeping should not be frowned upon. Instead it should be promoted with some precautions.

 

References

Arnett, Jensen, & Maynard. (2013). Child development: A cultural approach. Boston: Pearson.

Images of father and daughter sleeping by Pam Trombly.

Iwata, S., Iwata, O., & Matsuishi, T. (2013). Sleep patterns of japanese preschool children and their parents: Implications for co‐sleeping. Acta Paediatrica 102.6, pp. e257-e262.

Shimizu, M., Park, H., & Greenfield, P. M. (2014). Infant sleeping arrangements and          cultural values among contemporary japanese mothers. Frontiers In Psychology. 5, pp.       3-28.

Early Detection of Autism in Infants – By Danielle Tenca

April is Autism Awareness Month, a perfect time to inform parents about new research being done on early detection of autism in infants.  Autism spectrum disorder is defined as a serious neurodevelopmental disorder that impairs a child’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Although there is no cure, early intervention and therapy will bring about the best developmental outcome for a child. If early intervention is the key, then what if parents can begin intervention treatment before their child is even diagnosed? Recent research has begun to look for methods to identify early signs of autism in infancy.

Researchers T. Hutman, M.K. Chela, K. Gillespie-Lynch, and M. Sigma (2012), studied siblings of children with autism and the control group without a family history of autism. They were tested at 12 months and then screened for ASD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, at 36 months. Hutman and his colleagues (2012) tested characteristics such as how long they can focus on a single object, and how often they shift their attention. Finding that, looking behaviors (what the child focused their attention on) for infants later diagnosed with ASD was a preference towards toys over people. During the study, a researcher pretended to hurt themselves, a child later diagnosed with autism would look to them but then return attention to the toy they were playing with. Compared to a child without ASD, who paid longer attention to the injured researcher. This relates to later indicators of autism in which the child with ASD does not adapt to change in their social environment (Hutman, et al., 2012). The child’s preference for toys over people during stimulation may be an early indicator of autism. Another indicator that relates to social interaction was one of the study’s conclusions that 12- month old babies later diagnosed with ASD looked less frequently to the face of the examiner during some of the testing than the typically developing 12-month old’s (Hutman et al., 2012). This early sign of avoiding social interaction can be a sign that such interaction’s may cause the child distress and therefore they avoid the stressor by focusing their attention elsewhere.

During a lecture in class, we learned that toddlers are highly attuned to the response of their parents. They look at parent’s facial expressions to understand how to react in a new situation. Toddlers also verbally express pleasure or displeasure. Toddlers with early signs of autism will not as often show attention to their parents or their facial expressions. They are also more likely to not be verbally expressive of their feelings. Parents who have infants who are not interactive or verbally expressive may want to pay close attention to why this might be. The child may benefit by having more interaction with the parent. Even if the child is not autistic, the increased interaction will further the infants’ development.

Another research article I looked at summarizes the findings of early autism detection that has been done and other advancements being made. Current research found that a stable diagnosis of autism can be made in the second year of life. In many children, symptoms of ASD reach clinical levels around or before their second birthday (Steiner, A. M., Goldsmith, T. R., Snow, A. V., & Chawarska, K., 2012). By their second birthday, children with ASD typically demonstrate unusual fascinations with everyday objects, hand and finger mannerisms, as well as repetitive body movements.  An evaluation, the ADOS (Autism Diagnosis Observation Schedule) -Toddler is designed for children under 30 months who have non-verbal mental ages of at least 12 months and motor skills, that allow them to at least cruise their environment (Steiner et al. 2012). This was developed as an adaptation to the evaluations done at later ages but made more appropriate for toddlers. With this earlier detection, earlier intervention can begin. The Walden Toddler Program, for toddlers 15–30 months of age also reported improvements in frequency of meaningful verbalizations after a year of intensive intervention. Proving that early intervention will have a positive effect on a child with autism (McGee, G., Morrier, M., & Daly, T.,1999).

As we learned in class, a child’s characteristics will affect parenting, but these effects are filtered through the parents’ personality and psychological stability, this means that parenting is bidirectional. Parenting a child with autism will be more difficult than a child without Autism. This may cause more stress, but the more knowledgeable and prepared a parent is can only help to lead to better parenting of the child. With knowing early signs and intervention techniques, parents will be more prepared and consequently less stressed. Being psychologically stable for your child with autism and adapting different techniques will lead them to be better functioning individuals.

In addition to detecting early signs of autism, in current news there is another recent development. An article published on the Autism Mag website by Ashish Bhattacharya (2017) states that doctors are using brain scans to look for differences in brain activity in infants. This testing is currently being done with infants who are at high risk of having autism (their siblings have been diagnosed). Lack of brain activity during social interaction has been found in diagnosed ASD individuals. Looking at brain scans can show activity levels in a child’s brain before they begin to show any of the early signs of autism stated above. This means more preparation for the parents and earlier intervention for the child.

Early intervention is going to lead to the best outcome for a child showing signs of ASD. A child who chooses to play with toys more than social interaction, or clearly shows repetitive movements may be showing signs of autism. This is not a formal diagnosis, seeing these characteristics does not mean your child is going to be autistic. If you see any of these characteristics you may choose to pay closer attention to your child as they grow and implement your own intervention strategies at home. These early detection signs are going to lead to earlier intervention in children with ASD which will ultimately make them more functional individuals in society.

 

 References

Bhattacharya, A. (2017). Infant Brain Scanning Could Predict Early Signs of

Hutman, T., Chela, M., Gillespie-Lynch, K., & Sigman, M. (2012). Selective visual attention at twelve months: Signs of autism in early social interactions. Journal Of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 42(4), 487-498.

McGee, G., Morrier, M., & Daly, T. (1999). An incidental teaching approach to early intervention for toddlers with autism. Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, 4, 133–146.

Steiner, A. M., Goldsmith, T. R., Snow, A. V., & Chawarska, K. (2012). Practitioner’s guide to assessment of autism spectrum disorders in infants and toddlers. Journal Of Autism And Developmental Disorders, 42(6), 1183-1196.

Image of child and blocks retrieved from Istockphoto at http://www.istockphoto.com/photo/cute-baby-is-playing-with-educational-toys-over-white-gm178279508-20188802?esource=AFF_IS_IR_SP_FreeImages_246195&asid=FreeImages&cid=IS&irgwc=1

Image of autism puzzle pieces retrieved from Istockphoto at http://www.istockphoto.com/vector/autism-awareness-gm482854587-37516300?esource=AFF_IS_IR_SP_FreeDigitalPhotos_278806&asid=FreeDigitalPhotos&cid=IS&irgwc=1

Image of shy boy retrieved from Istockphoto at http://www.istockphoto.com/photo/young-boy-toddler-gm470760307-34793804?esource=AFF_IS_IR_SP_FreeDigitalPhotos_278806&asid=FreeDigitalPhotos&cid=IS&irgwc=1

Image of MRI machine from Istockphoto at http://www.istockphoto.com/photo/ct-scanner-in-hospital-gm502659193-43835854?esource=AFF_IS_IR_SP_FreeDigitalPhotos_278806&asid=FreeDigitalPhotos&cid=IS&irgwc=1

The Importance of Parental Involvement in Teens’ Technology and Screen Use – By Chasmine Thornton

According to a 2016 online article published by The Washington Post, 50% of all teens say they are addicted to their mobile devices while 59% of parents acknowledged they know it (Joyce, 2016). These alarming statistics show why it is so important for parents to be actively involved in their teens’ technology and social media use

Parenting in today’s digital era poses a new set of challenges for parents. I have firsthand experience with this as a single mother raising a preteen and a teenager. A big component of competent parenting is adaptation. As my children grow older and their needs change, I find myself having to learn how to adapt my parenting. I am currently and continuously learning how to adapt my parenting with my children’s technology and screen use. 

With 24-hour access to the Internet and mobile devices, it is no wonder teens say they are addicted. Research shows that approximately three-quarters of teenagers today have a smartphone, and approximately one-third would describe themselves as “constantly connected” to the Internet (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2016). With the ever-growing number of teens using social media sites and accessing video streaming sites every chance they get, it can be hard for parents to keep up. But, as hard as it may seem, we as parents must take the initiative to stay informed about our teens’ technology and screen use.
The Internet can be used as a great resource with a plethora of information. Despite this, it is all too easy for teens to encounter dangers while online. There are some dangers parents may already know about such as exposure to sex, violence, and sexual predators. Many parents may not even be aware of a hidden danger known as cyberbullying. Research suggests that approximately 20-40% of children and teens will experience some form of cyberbullying during their youth. Furthermore, less than 10% of victims will tell an adult about it (Tokunaga, 2010). Cyberbullying occurs when perpetrators use technology to harass and demean victims. Unlike traditional bullying, cyberbullying can be worse because there is no face-to-face interaction. Cyberbullying can negatively affect victims’ academic, emotional, mental, physical, and social well-beings.

Excessive technology and screen use can also have negative effects on health. Obesity is a risk factor due to the lack of physical activity. Teens can be at higher risk for mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. Another area of health concern that parents may not be aware of is the possible negative affect technology and screen use can have on sleep. Research found that exposure to the blue light that emits from technology devices can cause elevated melatonin levels in the body. Melatonin is a hormone that regulates sleep and too much of it, especially right before bedtime, can cause poor sleep patterns (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2016). Poor sleep patterns can lead to other health concerns as well.

So what can parents do about it? Parents can monitor technology and screen use. The Pew Research Center conducted a study that surveyed parents of 13 to17-year-olds asking them about the various ways they monitor their teens’ online and social media use. They found that 61% of parents checked which websites their teens visited, but only 39% of parents used parental controls for blocking, filtering, or monitoring their teen’s online activity (Anderson, 2016). Although specific methods of monitoring may work best for one family, it is not a one size fits all. Therefore, parents should use whatever method works best for their family.

Parents can establish rules and set limits for technology and screen use. These rules and limits should correlate with the maturity of the teen and over time parents may need to adapt. For example, a 10-year-old may be too young for a social media account but when they reach 13-years-old parents might want to revisit the issue. Also, parents should talk with their teens about the rules and limits before allowing their teen to have a social media account.

There should be consequences when rules are broken. Parents can discipline teens by using forms of punishment, like negative punishment. Negative punishment occurs when the parent takes away a stimulus (e.g., cellphone) from the child to decrease a behavior (e.g., staying up too late). This is a popular form of punishment used by parents of teens. The same Pew Research Center study mentioned above found that 65% of parents took away their teen’s cellphone or Internet access as a form of punishment (Anderson, 2016).

Parents should allow for open lines of communication. Parents should communicate with their teens and teens should feel like they can communicate with their parents as well. Communicating with your teen about what is appropriate and inappropriate content to post on the Internet is beneficial.

As parents, it is important that we model the behaviors we expect and disconnect from our devices too. Parents should lead by example.

I also encourage parents to take advantage of online resources. A specific one that I suggest for parents is commonsensemedia.org. This site is a great source for parents to find information about current issues involving children, media, technology, and screen use.

We are living in a changing and growing digital world making it increasingly important for parents to be actively involved in their teenagers’ technology and screen use. Parents should be aware of the dangers and negative effects of technology and screen use. Aside from just getting rid of all the devices and Internet access in our homes, there are ways parents can help to protect teens from the dangers and combat against the negative effects. Parents can monitor use, set limits, and establish rules upfront. If teens happen to break the rules, parents can discipline by taking away a privilege. Finally, allow for open communication and parents should also model expected behaviors themselves. These are all ways parents can help to prevent the epidemic of teens becoming addicted to technology.

 

References

American Academy of Pediatrics (2016). Media use in school-aged children and adolescents. 158(3), 1-5.

Anderson, M. (2016). Parents, teens, and digital monitoring. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2016/01/07/parents-teens-and-digital-monitoring/

Image of girl holding mobile phone by PublicDomainPictures at  https://pixabay.com/en/adult-cell-face-female-girl-happy-18377/

Image of girl with hands on face by Arieth at https://pixabay.com/en/bullying-hands-face-curl-up-her-679274/

Image of mom daughter laughing by TawnyNina at https://pixabay.com/en/laughter-laugh-fun-mom-daughter-775062/

Image of technology by FirmBee athttps://pixabay.com/en/office-freelancer-computer-business-583839

Joyce, A. (2016). Teens say they’re addicted to technology. Here’s how parents can help.

The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2016/05/03/teens-say-theyre-addicted-to-technology-heres-how-parents-can-help/

Tokunaga, R. S. (2010). Following you home from school: A critical review and synthesis of research on cyberbullying victimization. Computers in Human Behavior, 26(3), 277-287.

Not Married? Why Living Together is Unstable – By Sarah White

There are many beliefs out there that saying cohabitating before marriage is not a good idea, but why?  I am here to
tell you!

Cohabitation is defined as two unmarried people living together in a sexual relationship.  When we cohabitate there are many things to look at before this takes place.  I believe that the couple needs to sit down and clearly state what they expect out of living together… is this a test for marriage?  Are we serious about moving forward with our relationship?  Do we want to test the waters to see how we work living in the same home?  All these are good considerations before moving forward with cohabitation.  If any of the answers are “I’m not sure” or “maybe it is not a good idea” then cohabitating may not be the best answer.  Clearly, relationships are ever-adapting, altering over time as circumstances change. Similarly, the institution of marriage has evolved and will continue to do so (Layng, 2009).

Although our culture today leans more towards cohabitation, there are still many risks and costs that have been researched.  As I learned in class some of the potential costs include:

• Experiencing a loss of identity or feeling of being trapped
• Women end up doing more of the housework
• There is a weaker commitment to relationship compared to those who are married
• They demonstrate more negative behaviors after marriage
• It is not legally protected in most states.

This being said many couples out there say “oh that’s not us, or we won’t turn out that way” but research shows that those who cohabitate before marriage without first talking about the option of this leading to marriage are more likely to split.  In the Journal of Marriage and Family, two researchers state that not being engaged to a spouse before cohabitation can lead to an instable marriage (Manning & Cohen, 2012, p. 382).

Anita Jose, Daniel O’Leary, and Anne Moyer, researchers in the study of marriage and family state, “The effect of cohabitation on marriage has generally been evaluated in two ways: in terms of marital stability and marital quality” (Jose, 2010). 

Marital stability can be measured by the satisfaction of a relationship.  The way researchers describe satisfaction is by the comparison level alternatives and dependence.  Comparison level alternatives asks, are there better outcomes around me than the relationship I am currently in?  If one or both partners sees better alternatives around them then this can result in being unsatisfied.  Dependence is the degree to which a person believes they are reliant on others for outcomes.  Being too dependent can also result in an unsatisfied marriage.  So, to reiterate, comparison level alternatives and dependence make up satisfaction in a relationship.  Satisfaction results in a stable marriage.  Marital stability and marital quality can significantly determine the effects of cohabitation.  I learned from class that cohabitating before marriage also shows worse commitment to the relationship, low relationship confidence, more negative interactions between the couple, and also greater potential for divorce. So before jumping the gun and moving in with your significant other, remember that research shows there are also many potential risks and costs associated with cohabitation.

References

Jose, A. a., O’leary, K. D., & Moyer, A. (2010). Does premarital cohabitation predict subsequent marital stability and marital quality? A meta-analysis. Journal of marriage & family, 72(1), 105-116.

Layng, A. (2009). Where is marriage going? U.S.A Today Magazine.

Manning, W. D., & Cohen, J. A. (2012). Premarital cohabitation and marital dissolution: An examination of recent marriages. Journal of Marriage & Family, 74(2), 377.

Pictures taken by Sarah White.  All rights reserved.

To Have a Child or Not -By Alex Wagner

In most relationships the inevitable question comes up eventually, “Do you want kids?” For some it is a painful question that has been avoided and put off for as long as possible, but for those who want the traditional white picket fence, they smile with joy and proudly answer, “yes!”

While it used to be common for centuries to get married and have kids, in today’s society couples are rejecting traditional values. Statistics show that over the last few decades the amount of women, specifically, have more than doubled in the decision to remain child-free (Wayne, 2015).

Child-free families apply to couples not intending or expecting to have children. These couples may not want to have children for several reasons. For those who decide to be child-free they may see having kids as a financial burden/being tied down. Child-free couples may be more career driven and see having kids as an opportunity to have less time with their partner (Wayne, 2015).

Teddy Wayne, an author for New York Times, published an article in 2015 about why several Americans are not interested in having children. The article released several statistics on women who are childless and also discusses the reasons behind the choice of remaining child-free.

Wayne shares a story of a couple, Ms. Handler and Mr. Dyer and their desire to be child-free. He states that Ms. Handler just has a gut feeling about not becoming a mother. She says, “I don’t think I’d be a great mother. I’m a great aunt or friend of a mother” (Wayne, 2015).

The nontraditional option is becoming more common in our society. Ms. Handler is among many women that are deciding to remain child-free.

Tatiana Weinstein, an Assistant Director of Adult Services also has researched women who have made the decision to be child-free. She provides statistics about the growth and increase in this decision over the last few decades.

Weinstein claims, “A 2010 Pew Research report showing that being child-free has risen across all racial and ethnic groups, adding up to about one in five American women who are child-free today compared to one in ten in the 1970s. Before the recession hit in 2008, the proportion of women ages forty to forty-four who had never given birth grew by 80 percent since 1976, from 10 to 18 percent” (Weinstein, 2010).

A lot of women no longer have the extreme desire to get married and start a family as they once did. Research has shown that this new trend is also more predominant in some areas more than others (Weinstein, 2010).

University of Baltimore professor, Marina A Alder also added to the research showing the new trend in being child-free. She specifically looked at women living in Germany. This country has specifically had a large decrease in both marriage and child birth.

In her article, she also found evidence, backing the truth behind the decline in parenthood. Alder shares, “The record-breaking reductions in marriage and birth rates in East Germany in the years following unification have been described as a demographic ‘‘revolution,’’ ‘‘shock,’’ or ‘‘crisis” (Alder, 2014). What was once the hope to live the American Dream, no longer has marriage or children in the equation.

Although there are many benefits to having kids, for some it does not outweigh the responsibilities that come along with being a parent. Those who decide to remain child-free do not believe that it will give them personal fulfillment nor do they want to continue the family legacy.

As more and more couples decide to reject the traditional way of life, the more acceptable it seems to want to stay child-free. While the question to have kids may not be the ultimate deal breaker, it sure is starting to become the new trend.

 

References.

Alder, M. A. (2014, December 1). Child-free and unmarried: Changes in the life planning of young east german women. National Council on Family Relations, 55(6), 1170-1179. Retrieved October 25, 2016, from JSTOR Journals.

Wayne, T. (2015, April 5). No kids for me, no thanks. New York Times. Retrieved October 13, 2016.

Weinstein, T. (2010, January 8). The child-free factor and other fringe benefits. Lisle Library District, 55(4), 28-31. Retrieved October 5, 2016, from Information Science & Technology.