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     For an average working parent, meeting and accomplishing the various competing activities of daily living could often be such a crazy and complicated enterprise. Burdened by the often fast paced work environment and the pressure associated with work schedules, setting targets and deadlines, working parents are confronted with the most difficult and uncomfortable choices and decisions on how to align and create the needed balance between the competing demands of work and home. In these trying times, the need to secure and sustain a means of livelihood consumes and overrides every other consideration and this is quite understandable in consideration of the shrinking economy and the terrifying statistics of job losses. Gone are the days when husband and wife plan and structure their jobs and careers to suit and accommodate the peculiar needs of the family. Then, it was commonplace for one spouse in a two parent home (in most cases the wife) to give up a job, delay or sacrifice a lucrative career in order to devote quality time to raising the children. Even in cases where there are no kids, couples were known to make such necessary sacrifices and adjustments so as to create time to enjoy the presence and company of each other. Such culture of sacrifice for the sake of family is fast becoming extinct. With mounting bills and a persisting atmosphere of insecurity, parents are now compelled to focus on matters of job security over and above security of the home front. And for good reason this is quite understandable since there is little or no room for flexible options especially in consideration of the fact that losing the job will ultimately portend far reaching consequences for the family.

     However bad this dilemma is, parents must boldly and wisely strive to do what they know to be right and necessary to ensure proper balancing of their job and domestic responsibilities. Abandoning parental responsibilities for the rat race of economic survival does not and will never compare or compensate for the eventual realization in no distant time that they have right under their watch reared strangers as children. There is such an increasingly frightening gap of disconnection between parents and children. Even when most parents are conscious and aware of this, rather than take immediate steps to remedy the situation they choose to live in self deceit and denial of the dangers lurking not just in their homes but which will ultimately be exported to the larger society. Children have been practically abandoned by parents to the destructive influences of television, internet and video games. Even when the contents of these media continue to be derided by almost every parent in view of the seeds of pervasion and criminality sowed in the fertile minds these children, the reality is that very few have been able to summon the will to tackle this anomaly.

     A good friend of mine and his wife recently had a most terrifying experience which forced them to rethink and reorder their priorities. With both parents buried neck deep in their respective jobs, they arranged for their 7th grade son to attend an after school program at a nearby community center upon closing from school (Monday through Friday, from 3pm to 7pm). The sad and unfortunate side to this decision was that the child was all by himself from school to the community center and from the center back home. The parents at no time bothered to check or monitor the boy’s attendance neither did they make efforts to speak with the director and supervisors of the program, to at least convey their interest and desire to know how their son was coping while they were at work. What they did not realize was that their son was pilfering and stealing from home and spending time and money hanging out with friends at a corner store close to his school, never got to the after school program earlier than 4:30pm as my friend would later discover from the center’s attendance register. It took an ugly shooting incident  and a stray bullet fatally injuring one of the boy’s whom their son regularly hung out for the parents in cooperation with the police and child protection agency to dig up the otherwise unknown side of their child’s after school routine. Emerging from this horrifying experience, and now under the watchful eyes and constant visits of child welfare counselors, my friend and his wife did not need any prompting to decide on what their primary interests are and what lines need be drawn. This could have turned out more tragic had this continued undetected.

     I was at my son’s school the other day for an open school session. While waiting to review my son’s performance with the teacher, I was shocked by the discussion between the teacher and one of the parents. The teacher was reporting what she considered a serious disciplinary issue concerning the student which should ordinarily attract outright condemnation and sanctions from any discerning parent, but this parent’s reaction was simply disgusting. The student according to the teacher was in the habit of ripping off pages of corrections and remarks made by the teacher on her homework book in front of the teacher and throwing same at the teacher. The unfortunate reaction and response of this parent was that the daughter was in the habit of throwing such tantrums whenever she is provoked. For a parent to utter such in defense of an indefensible behavior without as much as an apology to the teacher is a confirmation of the quality of parenting in the child’s life. With the influence of such unrestrained child amongst other students, one is alarmed at what we are breeding and unleashing on the society.

     If a parent would merely pat a child on the back for rejecting and refusing to be corrected by the teacher, why then is such a child in school? What is the basis and rationale for learning if the teacher would not correct mistakes made by students? At what time should parents step in to enforce discipline? Who indeed should have primary oversight over children? These and such related incidents leave me with so many answered questions.

      Regrettably, we all know the answers and potential implications and consequences for abdicating our primary responsibilities but conveniently make choices that potentially self destruct the children, family and society. As parents, the choices we make with respect to raising our children not only live with us but will be around to haunt us. Let us be bold and wise to do what is just and right to secure the future of the children we so much profess and claim to love.

Uchenna Ihejirika

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It’s a fact that more parents are finding ways to stay home with their young children than in years past.  More often, moms are opting not to work or find work that they can do at home.  Dads, as well, are finding more opportunities to spend more time working from home.  So how do we keep the kids entertained and maintain a somewhat structured environment in which they can spend their early years learning and playing?  Here are a few suggestions for prioritizing your time and enhancing your child’s stay at home experience:

Focus on healthy eating.  With child obesity becoming an epidemic in this country, the focus on nutrition must take top priority if our aim is to rear our children in a healthy manner.  There are two easy ways encourage healthy eating habits:   Only keep healthful foods in the house and model healthful eating habits in front of your children.  As well, there are many activities that can be centered around healthy foods.  Kids can crack eggs safely, spread peanut butter or help put up groceries.  Talking about the health benefits of food is also a great way for parents and children to interact and get the educational process started.
Focus on a healthy lifestyle.  One of the main benefits of choosing to be a stay at home parent is the incredible opportunity that this option provides to bond with your children.  Getting out and exercising with them every day can be so enjoyable and fun that it doesn’t even feel like exercise.  All the while, you are encouraging healthy physical development in your child at the same time that you are building lasting memories and bonding with them emotionally.   Most parks have playgrounds, walking, biking and jogging trails as well as pine trees, water features, picnic tables and baseball fields to play in. 
Focus on a healthy mind.  Weekly trips to the library can be a ritual that children learn to anticipate with enthusiasm.  As well as offering reading and craft programs for young children, libraries can be a wonderful place for socializing with other parents as well as a safe place for your child to meet new friends.  Many public library systems have multiple programs geared toward pre-school aged children as well as many branch locations for convenience. 

While stay at home parenting can be stressful at times, the rewards far exceed the cost, especially for children.  With a little pre-planning and focus, stay at home parenting can be a rewarding experience for both parent and child.

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It is fun to be a parent but parenting could be harrowing due to a lot of factors that involve parenting.  There are kids to take care of, responsibilities to be done and commitment that should not be abandoned.  To a parent it is always duty before pleasure if you want to have a harmonious and happy family.  But could you be a parent and still have fun?

Here are some guides to make you have fun even if you are a busy parent:

Have a plan

Planning is a very essential factor in everything that you do.  If you know how to plan things, you will be able to tackle more efficiently being a parent and still have time left to have fun.  Make a list of all the things you want to do then sort them out according to how you want them done.  This will help you to finish your daily work systematically. 

Know how to manage your time

The common problem among parents is time management.  Busy parents need more than 24 hours a day in order to tackle the various responsibilities shouldered them.  If you know how to manage your time you will not find parenting hard and you will still have fun even as a busy parent.

Learn how to prioritize

Let’s face it.  A parent has a job that is bigger than what we are actually looking at but it does not mean that you will force yourself to finish all your work in a day.  You have to learn how to prioritize.  Do not try to tackle everything at one time or you will end up being exhausted and have no energy for yourself.  Do the things that need to be done daily but you can schedule other chores once a week or every other day.  It doesn’t hurt to leave the other chores for the other days, what is important is that you will have time to have fun and enjoy life.

Take care of your health

A healthy parent has a healthy life which affects the situation of the family and how he looks at life.  If you are a healthy parent then you can work hard and still have the energy to have fun with your friends.  Remember that your health is crucial in taking care of your family, your work and your responsibility also to yourself. 

Although parenting could be real daunting, you could make it easier for you and have fun.  Having fun even as a busy parent will make you truly enjoy life thus making your family happy too.

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You must be making your normal New Year’s resolutions and it was supposed to change the way you live by keeping off  junk food and begin a good plan for savings more.  You have to reflect on your way of living as well as think about your parenting style also.

When you look back, maybe you will feel somewhat derisory on how you have been parenting till now. Like many other parents you may be nagging your children too often, not spending the time required with them or over-reacting when they are messy. There is no need to feel bad as  parenting is one of the toughest jobs in the world and of children don’t come with an owner’s manual. We have to depend on trial and error to a great extend.

Thinking about what you can do next year as a parent, there are several New Year’s resolutions you can consider and you don’t have to accept all of them. It is best to be practical and decide on which are the ones, which suit you best to include in your list of New Year’s resolutions.

You must be very consistent when you discipline kids.  This may not be very easy all the time when you have to deal with the misbehavior of your children. Set unswerving limitations and restrictions, for bigger kids also and you must be ready to negotiate and give up a little. Be calm when kids break rules or don’t cooperate and don’t choose to be tough and decide to ‘teach a lesson’.

It is not good to scream and nag kids all the time telling kid to cooperate. In fact it is better at times to be calm and just be reasonable person. You may he heard parents complaining of ‘deaf’ kids and this is the reason behind it and no problem with their hearing. They just hear things they like.

Try to concentrate on the positive behavior of your children. You will not achieve much by always pointing out the mischief of your kids and it is best to ignore the ones you can. You can try to catch the children doing something good, as like us they also respond positively to constructive comments and will keep good behavior to attract attention.

Giving more time to the family helps in the positive growth of the children, especially in the present time when it has become very difficult for working parents and busy kids to share some time at home with each other. You have to be very specific with this objective or this will only remain on paper.  You can plan a minimum of one meal together as a family in a week or keep one weekend every month only for your family.

You need time for yourself and take regular break as this is essential. You can alter your daily schedule or take help from others so that you can spend some time with yourself.

You also need some time with your partner, like dinner together or a romantic weekend in a month or weekly so that you have time with your partner, where you can focus on your relationship.

You can get more ideas about bringing up confident children from Michael Grose and you can to Happy Kids, the email newsletter every fortnight. You can browse parentingideas.com.au.

For more useful information, please visit our website: THE KNOWLEDGE BASE, and look for the FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS section.

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Issues of Parenting and Caring

Becoming Parents and Carers

Biological Parents

- Are those who produce and provide the genetic material for a child. The parenting begins at conception and continues until they are incapable of providing care any longer.

Pregnancy- sperm combines with female egg. Nuclei begins to grow, unfertilized ovum moves into uterus and discarded with menstruation. Egg attaches to wall of uterus if fertilized. Placenta forms to nourish the baby. Umbilical cord carries nutrients and oxygen to the baby, takes away carbon dioxide and urea waste.

Planned Pregnancy:

-         Economic status

-         Environment (social, emotional, physical, economic)

-         Health of parents- smoking, weight

-         Age effects fertility

-         Time

-         Maturity (ready for a child)

-         Responsibility- joint, stable relationship

-         Education- parenting

-         Access to resources/ networks

-         Medical (ART)

-         Long term commitments

-         Birth options

-         Religion/ cultural

Unplanned

-         Health effects (parents and children, STI’s)

-         Abortion

-         Economic

-         Family/ partner support

-         Employment

-         Accommodation

-         Future problems/ goals

-         Religion/ culture

-         Social life

-         Public opinion

-         Age

IVF- In Vitro Fertilization

Females are given fertility drugs in order to produce more eggs for removal. The collected sperm is mixed with eggs in a dish or tube to create embryos, which are then placed back into the women’s uterus. IVF works for many couples, but the pregnancy rates for couples with severe male infertility are generally quite poor.

GIFT- Gamete Intra Fallopian Transfer

The sperm and eggs are removed and placed into the fallopian tubes where fetilization will hopefully take place. This takes place within the body (religious), it has a low success rate.

ART- Assisted Reproductive Technology

Include IVF, GIFT, ICSI, AI, ZIFT

Social Parents

Are individuals who care for a child without providing genetic material. They take on the responsibilities of being a parent and may face many difficulties due to their relationship with the child.

Adoption: alternative for parents who can’t conceive a child. Adoptive parents become legal parents of a child. Few babies and children are available. This requires parents to demonstrate commitment and parental obligations.
Fostering: is a temporary arrangement ranging from a few days to years, where children stay with another family. The care must be safe, secure and comfortable. It’s the hardest form of social parenting for children due to socially, psychological and physical issues.
Step-parenting: when a man and women marries and forms a de facto relationship with a partner who already has a child a previous relationship. This may be negative or positive.
Surrogacy: Involves an arrangement between a woman and a couple who would like to have a child. The woman agrees to conceive, carry and give birth to the child for the couple. May use male’s sperm, fertilized ova or donor sperm. Controversial issues- illegal in QLD and VIC.
Carer Relationships

Voluntary: caring without pay. Includes grandparents, siblings, neighbours.
Paid: Caring with pay. Includes babysitters, Before and after care, pre-schools, nurses, teachers, foster carers.

The circumstances that lead to requiring care are

planned- disability/ illness, age, commitments (work)
Unplanned- accident, unavailable, illness, commitments
Managing Parenting and Caring Responsibilities

Preparations for Becoming a parent or carer

Physical
3-6 months before conception, parents should begin planning for pregnancy
Parents should give up smoking and alcohol (alcohol affects sperm production and may cause early miscarriages)
Prescription and non-prescription medication can harm the developing embryo
Stress can reduce the chances of becoming pregnant- it can affect sperm production and interfere with ovulation, affect the womb lining or inhibit implantation in females
Balanced diet- vitamins, minerals and nutrients
Women should not consume certain foods carrying organism listeria which causes miscarriage
Visits to the doctor, obstetrician or midwife, many tests are conducted to ensure the baby is developing normally and that problems can be identified early
Courses are held in hospitals and community Centres with trained midwifes explaining labour, childbirth, relaxation, exercise and caring.
Regular exercise will help stretching.

Social
More planning is usually necessary, either to organise child care or prepare the necessary equipment needed for baby
Parents who cares for the child at home may feel isolated
Friends may also change activities more likely to involve other family families with children
Most couples share the parenting responsibilities to allow each other some time out to enjoy social, leisure and sporting activities
Insufficient time available for social relationships associate with employment and leisure activities

Emotional
Can experience extra stress especially if there are problems between the partners or financial issues
Hormonal changes may make the mother moody. Fatigue and nausea may also cause depression.
Mother may feel unattractive, reducing self-esteem
Partner and siblings may feel neglected as she receives most attention
It is important for parents to spend time with them after the birth to explain the new family situation and assist older children to adjust to new relationships

Economic
The costs of a baby vary depending on the child’s and parents health
Medical expenses, such as the obstetrician, hospital, immunization and check-ups
Maternity cloths and baby clothing
Essentials for the baby (stroller, pram, cot, change table) and adjustments to the environment (car, house).
Food expenditure increases
Baby sitters are necessary to allow parents some time to themselves. To save money some parents join a baby sitters cooperative (parents pay each other in time not money)
A lack of support services, inflexible work practices and loss of assistance entitlements prevent many carers from entering the workforce.
Factors influencing resource management in the caring relationship

Dependants (children) affected by the caring relationship

Age

Increasing with more women having their first child in theirs 30’s. More couples are delaying the birth of their first child due to their lifestyle and career choice and to ensure financial stability. Age affects the relationship that they share with their child. A teenager is still growing and developing. They have less experience of life and therefore do not have the same knowledge and skills, career or financial security as a mature age parent have. This may affect their ability to fulfill their role as parents. On the other hand, they are energetic and enthusiastic.

Skills

Includes experience and education. Experience is very important, and will assist parents to make better decisions about parenting. Parental classes, which can be accessed through the local council, child acre services that can assist parents in developing skills

Capabilities

Previous experiences can help people to develop certain capabilities. Assistance from grand parents, networks of friends, Playgroup can assist parents in sharing parenting ideas and helping people manage their new role

Special needs

Include illness and disability. This has an impact on the carers and the family. These carers are eligible for the disability Pension. Disability Services Australia is responsible for providing services for disabled children and supporting their families

Resources

Time

The amount of time available for parents and carers to spend with their children is dependent upon there:

Employment
Travel to and from work
Other commitments or priorities, hobbies or interests.

The changing nature of the workforce means that more people are working in part time employment. They may need to work two jobs to equate to one full time wage. The hours of employment have increased. The social trend that people need to travel longer distances to get to and from work.

Energy

Younger parents have more energy than do older parents or grandparents in meeting the needs of their children. With a shift to parents having their children later in life, people generally have less energy then parents in the teens and twenties.

Finances

Being financially secure can make a big difference to the parenting or caring relationships as it can reduce the stress of the financial burden that a new family member brings. Financial support, such as the baby bonus, Maternity Allowance, childcare Allowance, Family Tax Benefits, Parenting Payments can assist parents meet the needs of their children.

Housing

Satisfies people’s fundamental need for shelter. Provides a place where people can withdraw from the world and enjoy privacy, a place to eat, relax and sleep, a safe place to keep possessions, a place to care family members. Households who have purchased their own home are widely considered to enjoy benefits not so readily available to renters. These include greater security in being able to accumulate a substantial financial assets. The increasing interest rates and first home buyers grant influences this.

Parenting and caring relationships
Roles in parenting and caring

Individuals and groups who adopt roles

Roles are obligations that a person needs to meet to fulfill a task. Roles are how people develop socially acceptable behaviour that is standardised by a group such as a family.

Individual or group

Positive impacts

Negative Impacts

Grandparents

Teaches traditions
Learn generation differences
Time/ skills
Different parenting style/ discipline
Lack of energy
Limited money/ resources
Forced on them (reluctant)
language

Relatives- siblings

extended family teaching
time with young children
no structure- children/siblings
experience
resources
forced to care- reluctant

Teachers

teach
safe
official/ authority
trained
social transition
don’t listen
cultural divide- beliefs
time

Paid carers

relief from family
different environment
trained to care- specialised
parenting style
temporary relationship
problems with communication
trust
legal issues

Significant others (doctors, social workers, neighbours, friends)

doctors- ensure health
social worker- socio-emotional wellbeing
trained
temporary/ unfamiliar
money
time management

Factors influencing parenting and caring relationships

Age
More couples are waiting until they are over 30 to begin a family because of a focus on careers and finding the right person to begin a family. Many aren’t ready to settle down
The age of parents increase so does the chance of them being financially able to support a child
Reliable contraception also influences this.
The risk of complications during pregnancy does increase with age
In 2001, there were 18 800 primary carers aged less then 18 years old providing support for parents, children, relative or friend
The experience positively effects their developing skills and building strong relationships

Culture and Religion
There are often differences in child rearing from different cultures
For example in the Aboriginal culture brothers and sisters share the responsibility to care for the child as parents
Religious groups provide a set of rules and behaviors, they may even dictate necessary dress and diet
The principles of the family may be guided by religion (who they can marry, attitude of sexual relations, contraception).
Parenting decisions may also be influenced by religion (school they attend)

Education
Level of education may influences the type of relationship that is developed with children
Researching parenting techniques can assist with their parenting role and relationship, although excessive information may confuse parents
This could be from discussions with other parents, suitable parent books.
Parents with more education tend to be able to access more services, and therefore have more resources available to them
Many parenting techniques are being taught at school (Exploring early childhood, CAFS)
Education also effects the children

Gender
Traditionally, women were seen as the primary caregiver. However, this is changing and man are sharing the responsibility of care
Gender role differences help with raising a child
Children’s concepts of gender roles develop from their on experiences
Positive relationships with parents in early childhood help to establish gender identity
parents should be aware of behaviour and allocate household responsibilities

Previous experiences and own upbringing

Parents experiences and own upbringing influences how they themselves parent
Parents have ideas about what parenthood invloves and their own capabilities
Many of these ideas are based on observations of other parents and are supplemented with other factors, such as culture, media and gender. This may lead to unrealistic expectations and therefore goals aren’t met.
The majority of parents who abuse their children were abused, and neglected in their childhood

Socioeconomic Status
Family income determines the resources utilized for maintaining relationships
Costly activities (holidays, adventure sports) may not be available to low income families, while a higher income family may allow for extra schooling and home help
These things can allow socialisation to develop and the parent to spend more time with the child
Socioeconomic status is often significant for parents as lower income families can’t afford childcare, and have to care for the child themselves, they also rely on Government payment and benefits
The number of hours and type of work, determines how much time and energy available to spend time with children
The geographic location of the family home also influences the parenting relationship. Living in a city or rural area determines the facilities available (childcare, health, resources)

Media
Parenting relationships are portrayed in all types of media
It transmits images of how different groups in society should behave
Parents often modify their behaviour to be more like those in the media
Parents may not wish for their children to be influenced by media behaviour. However, often parents and children are copying practices they have seen or heard with positive or negative results
Visual images shows perfect parenting
These images are not realistic and may cause tension in relationships
Material goods are often advertised so s to make the parent or child think they ust have them
Parenting shown on current affair’s shows portray assertive behaviour that challenges parenting and caring. Topical issues like nutrition and divorce challenge parenting authorities
Child abuse and neglect are openly discussed in the media
There are codes that certifies TV shows and times they are shown

Nature of Relationship
The nature of relationship of parents and children influences the development of the bond that develops
The arrival of a new baby brings stress to every couples relationship
The emotional development of the child and contact strengthen baby’s feelings of comfort and security
Love is a basic need for children emotional and social development- effects wellbeing

Style of parenting

The family culture and background, religion, he media and societal expectations influence parental authority
Parents should always allow for mutual respect between the parent and child
There are 4 parenting styles
Authoritarian parenting: involves one or both parents making all the decisions and rules and instructing and directing the behaviour of children. Children are punished and rarely rewarded
Democratic parenting: is characterized by all family members having equal rights and participation in decision making. To reach decision, all options are considered and a vote may be taken. Parents encourage children to make decisions and take responsibility. May set goals and reward children. Punishment and rewards are negotiated with children
Permissive or indulgent parenting: I characterized by supportive and tolerant parenting with little control. Children don’t take on responsibilities and no method of decision making and therefore, children don’t learn this skill. Parents usually give in to children, this causes confusion later and are unable to determine acceptable behaviour
Negligent parenting: Means that parents fail to take responsibility for their children actions and behaviour. Occurs when parents have failed to provide adequately for their needs. Parents may fail to show any love and concern. DOCS takes interest in these families

Special Needs
A child with special needs require more attention and care
These include chronic conditions (asthma), learning disorders (dyslexia), development disorder (autism), physical disorder (visual impairment) or the child  may be gifted
WHO defines disability as a restriction or lack of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being
There are many professionals who offer specialized medical treatment for children
These professionals offer the parent and child support through learning, development and educational activities
Gifted and talented children need special attention to reach their full potential

Implications for parents and carers of children with chronic illness include:

-         Making doctor appointments and accompanying the child

-         On going care- sometimes 24 hours a day, which restricts both employment and social opportunities

-         Financial pressures brought about by paying for specialist care, medicines- carers have a lower income

-         Disruption to the family routine because of hospitalization and appointments

-         Having to balance the need of an ill child and those of other family members

-         Poor mental health of parents/ carers and overall family distress

-         Having to educate the child because of limited schooling opprtunities

-         Siblings may resent the child, but studies show that they develop maturity, responsibility and tolerance they become individual

Multiple role expectations
Society places many pressures on parents
Parents have role expectations placed on them in a variety of areas such as family, work, sport and community groups
The complexity of roles can lead to conflict
The trend for small families, more women in the paid workforce, and the increasing involvement of fathers in child rearing have all contributed to the change in parental roles and expectations
It is the parents role to meet the basic needs of their children- food, shelter and clothing
Parents are often trying to balance their role in the family with their role as a member of the paid workforce
Employees are required to accommodate the needs of employees who are responsible for the care of family members
Flexible working practices assist
Parents may have to organise child care to coincide with work arrangements
Having children means less time available for leisure activities
As children grow older they can develop independence, however parents must still transport them and be involved
It is important for both parents’ and carers’ physical and psychological health that they maintain their interests outside the home
Strategies to assist parents and carers with this management
Having voluntary carers- (grandparents), cheap care
Having paid carers- (baby sitters, pre-schools)- children are properly cared for.
Government allowances- assist carers financially (baby bonus, Carer pensions)
Flexible working places- some provide care for children, allow for company cars, are flexible for employee who have children
Working part time
Working from home to care for children
Parents take turns in caring for children (weekends or during the week)
Having a cleaner allows more time for responsibility and leisure activities

Rights and Responsibilities in parenting and caring

Rights and responsibilities- Parents and Carers

The United Nations has developed a Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Parents have broad rights on their freedoms to bring up children as they wish. When a child is not cared for, the court or other organisation my punish and/or remove the child.

The Family Law Act states that parents and legal guardians have the rights to:

Determine the child’s upbringing and education
Discipline the child
Consent to the child adoption
Take legal proceedings on the child’s behalf

Under the same law, parents and legal guardians have the responsibility to:

Maintain the child- the level of maintenance depends on the child’s needs and the adults resources
Send the child to school between the ages of 6 and 15 years

Parents and carers owe a duty of care  (have a moral obligation to meet the needs of those entrusted to their care) to the children in their care. This is contained in the responsibilities that parents and carers have under the law. This also includes such things as setting limits for their children and in meeting out discipline. Both of these should:

Not be of a violent nature
Not infringed upon the basic rights of a child be reasonable, clear and consistent
Maintain the dignity of the child
Ensure that parent/Carer and child are able to reconcile at the conclusion of the event
Be consequential
There are international and national legal rights that protect children. Australia has signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Children have to right to:
Rights and responsibilities- children

-         identity

-         family

-         express oneself and have access to information

-         safe and healthy life

-         special protection in times of war

-         education

-         special care for the disabled

-         protection from discrimination

-         protection against abuse

-         protection from harmful work

-         special treatment if arrested

Sources of Conflict

Conflict between children, parents and carers occur for many reasons. These may include

lack of respect for either child or Carer by either party
stress and strain of daily life and life events
children growing up and testing the boundaries, seeking independence and questioning conventional thinking and rules
stress of caring for a child or other adult with a special need or chronic illness
financial strain
Change in the family or routine (death, divorce, drugs, health, moving home)
Support for Parents and carers

Health services

Health services offers advice and resources to manage medical and health issues. Some hospitals specialise in the treatment of children. This includes physiotherapy, tresillian, early childhood Centres and community nurses.

Welfare services

Welfare agencies can provide resources to help meet the needs of parents, carers and families. Examples include the Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul Society, Anglicare, and Unitingcare Burnished.

Parenting Groups

These are specific groups relating to parenting that offers advice, information and support for all parents. Parentline is a service for people who want information and advice about caring. The Multiple Birth Association refers parents of twin’s etc to their nearest twins club for information, support and social contacts. The Australian Breastfeeding Association offers support, encouragement and information to mothers who wish to breastfeed.

Community groups

These are associations in local areas that offer services for parents and children to meet their parenting needs. For example, playgroups, churches, charities, World Vision and Meals on Wheels.

Government agencies

Various levels of government offer payments, services and advice to the public. Department of Community Services provides information on family assistance, youth and student support, child support, aged, disabilities etc. Centrelink offers a range of information and government payments including Parenting Payments, Family Assistance, Child Support, Family Tax Benefits and Carer Allowance Payments.

Child-care services

They provide care for children while the parenting works or has other responsibilities. Some are parent run, some are independently run by a parent body, others are council owned and run. Services include long or short day care, occasional or vacation care, in home groups care, before and after school care.

Carers’ support groups

Carers’ support groups specialise in offering advice and support for carers. Families and carers are provided with information and guided regarding problems and issues that they are trying to manage. Carer support groups allow people in similar circumstances to share experiences, feelings, concerns and information. Respite is a form of support for carers.

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