Family, Culture and Community serve an important role in the development of a child. A happy and healthy childhood depends on a loving relationship with families, traditions of a culture, and the participation in a community. It is essential for a child to be exposed to these aspects to ensure a happy and healthy development.
A family is defined as two or more people who live together and are related by such enduring factors as birth, marriage, adoptions, or long term mutual commitment. Typically, a family has one or two adults who serve as the heads of the family that are responsible for the children's welfare and have authority over them. It is crucial that every child has at least one adult taking full responsibility for the child's needs, health, education and welfare.
Families don't just clothe and feed their children but also encourage behaviors and beliefs beginning at birth and leading later into their adult lives. Children learn how to act (and not to act) through their families who teach them. Families teach and model proper ways of behaving in different situations, encourage proper behaviors, and arrange for children to gain ceratin kinds of experiences they will benefit from.
Culture refers to the characteristic behaviors and beliefs of a long standing social group and provide a framework for how group members decide what is normal and appropriate. Culture can also include celebrating holidays, and rituals. Different cultures have ways of doing their own things ranging from who prepares meals to who disciplines the children. Cultural groups also have different communication styles for example, in some cultures children are expected to take a turn in adults' conversation whereas in other cultures, children are not allowed to speak or interrupt an adult conversation.
Beliefs are also a very important part of a group's culture and they vary among different societies. Common behaviorial practices are grounded in beliefs about what is true, healthy, appropriate, and rational. Adults within a culture can justify their typical ways of raising children by asserting familiar values. By growing up in a culture, children experience human life as predictable and meaningful. Culture also adds an intellectual dimension to life by exposing children to the wisdom, discoveries and creative works of society.
Communities also affect children indirectly that many institutions such as homeless shelters, health clinics, social service agencies help keep children on productive pathways. They tell children what society wants them to become as adults. Depending on the activities in which local adults participate in, whether drug trafficking and gang affliation or productive employment and community involvement, communities let them know what behaviors are expected. It is important to encourage our children to be positive individuals who strive for the best and help others that are less fortunate. As adults, we need to act as role models for our children so they can in turn continue to succeed with the rest of their lives.
Click HERE to read up on ways to become a positive role model for your children.
Communities also affect children indirectly that many institutions such as homeless shelters, health clinics, social service agencies help keep children on productive pathways. They tell children what society wants them to become as adults. Depending on the activities in which local adults participate in, whether drug trafficking and gang affliation or productive employment and community involvement, communities let them know what behaviors are expected. It is important to encourage our children to be positive individuals who strive for the best and help others that are less fortunate. As adults, we need to act as role models for our children so they can in turn continue to succeed with the rest of their lives.
Click HERE to read up on ways to become a positive role model for your children.
