Working With Families

Week 6 Written Assignment

Aaron Johnson

Keiser University

Dr. Kirschner

EDU 540 Current trends and issues in education

April 13, 2014

The Nuclear Family Dual parent homes build on

discipline and modeling appropriate behavior, parents typically act as a team to strengthen and reinforce behavior.

Children tend to receive get consistent messages about behavioral expectations.

A two-parent household is more likely to have higher consistency with raising their children.

Nuclear families tend to establish stronger bonds. Children witness their parents' supportive and loving relationships, which assists in social structures.

Grandparents acting as parents• Grandparents face possible

limitations such as: feelings of being unwelcome, income restrictions, and age or physical limitations (Aldridge & Goldman, 2007).

As a school leader it is important to determine why the grandparents are caring for the child.

The ability of the grandparent’s capabilities must be considered when dealing with the child in the areas of discipline, financial issues, academic ability, or even their general hygiene.

Single family homes, nuclear families, and even foster care environments all present a different atmosphere than that of a child raised by a grandparent. The main difference is that while the grandparents may be willing to raise the child, promise to love and respect the child, they may not be physically capable in doing so like other family dynamic structures.

Unmarried or Cohabitating

Parents U.S. census data shows that in

2012, 34.4 percent of adults aged

30 to 34 had never been married

compared to 6% in 1970 (Vespa,

Lewis & Kreider, 2013).

Among all family groups with

children under age 18, the

number of married-couple

households raising children

declined from 40 to 20% between

1970 and 2012 (Vespa, Lewis &

Kreider, 2013).

This situation has a greater risk

of instability than a household

with married parents

Children may have different last

names than the father

Depression or a feeling of not

belonging may arise in children

Single Parent Household Authors Jablonska and Lindbergh

state, "Research on the impact of the family structure indicate that growing up in a single-parent family is associated with higher risk for substance abuse, adjustment problems, emotional problems and delinquent behavior" (Jablonska, & Lindberg, 2007 p. 1).

More than one fourth of all children in the United States live with only one parent(Single Parent Families, 2013).

Emotional strain could be placed on the children in the case of a divorce or death in the family unit

Financial limitations, and parental involvement may be constraints in the single family household

Gay and Lesbian Families Increasingly common alternative family structure.

Students could feel a sense of isolation, and embarrassment due to the stigma attached to homosexual relationships

Older children may feel that gay parents are a social liability

Gay and lesbian families tend to hold more liberal viewpoints and politics than heterosexual families(Flynn,2014). .

Research suggests that children of same-sex couples and children of heterosexual couples have comparable intelligences, ethics, and growth(Flynn,2014).

Bi-Racial Parents According to the U.S.

Census Bureau, 1/50 marriages are interracial which is four times the number compared to1970(Alouise,1998)

Children may adopt multi cultural heritage

Children may have multiple customs or beliefs

Children’s racial identity may be more identifiable with one parent

Administrators Plan Of Action

Communicate with parents early, and often

Learn as much background data on students as possible

Familiarize yourself with students that possess behavioral concerns possibly due to family instability

Fair, but not always equal Not all situations are

the same

Build relationships with families before discipline issues arise

Recognize family dynamics are not always black and white scenarios

Treat each scenario on a case by case basis

Explain your rational to parents before making any decision

Dealing with Problem Parents Issue code of conducts at

the beginning of each year

Remain fair, and unbiased in all situations

Recognize individualized beliefs, religions, and home lives of students when making decisions

Be open to advice, but make a ruling that is justifiable by empirical evidence

Implore parents to work with the school, not against it

Maintain an open door policy for dealing with all parents concerns

Conclusion Remember the

feelings of the children involved within the family dynamic

Realize issues may be out of the student’s control

Invite opportunities for positive praise and encouragement

Remember not every child comes from a nuclear family

Maintain the ability to be a role model, and a support figure

References Aldridge, J. & Goldman, R. (2007). Current issues and trends

in education,( 2 nd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Alouise, N. J. (1998). Interracial Marriages and the Effects on Children. Retrieved fromhttp://academic.udayton.edu/race/04needs/s98alouis.htm

Flynn, S. I. (2014). Alternative Family Structures. Alternative Family Structures -- Research Starters Sociology, 1-7.

Single Parent Families. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/family-dynamics/types-of-families/pages/Single-Parent-Families.aspx

Vespa, J., Lewis, J. M., & Kreider, R. M. (2013). America’s families and living arrangements: 2012. Washington, DC: US Census Bureau. Retrieved November 8, 2013, from: http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p20-570.pdf