3 A & B social values and practice

Question 1

Blended family

Answer 1

• family containing two or more children
• of whom at least one is natural child of both members of the couple
• least one is step-child of either member of the couple

Question 2

Child

Answer 2

Person of any age who is natural, step or foster son or daughter of a couple or lone parent,

usually resident in same household, and who does not have child or partner of their own usually resident in household

Question 3

Dependent children

Answer 3

All family members under 15,

family members aged 15-19 years attending school

15-24 years attending a tertiary educational institution full time

Question 4

Family

Answer 4

Two or more persons, one of whom is aged 15 years and over,

who are related by blood, marriage, adoption, step or fostering;

and who are usually resident in same household

Question 5

Intact family:

Answer 5

A couple family containing at least one child who is natural or foster child of both members of couple,

and no child who is the step child of either member of the couple

Question 6

Non-dependent children

Answer 6

In coupe or one-parent families, sons or daughters who are aged over 15 years

and who are not full-time students aged 15-24 years

Question 7

One-parent family

Answer 7

family consisting of a lone parent with at least one dependent or non-dependent child (regardless of age) who is also usually resident in household

Question 8

Other family:

Answer 8

Family of related individuals residing in same household

Question 9

Step family

Answer 9

Couple family containing one or more children, at least one of whom is the step-child of either member of the couple and none of whom is natural or foster child of both members of couple

Question 10

Definition of Family

Answer 10

• Definition of family is not simple
• Complexities associated with parental separation, divorce and re-partnering (or remarriage)

o Some of which are reflected in various family combinations

• Different family structures affect legal judgements about what is best for children when parents separate in terms of who they should live with, how contact with other parent can be maintained and who pays school fees etc.
• Issues such as grandparenting, teenage mothers, Aboriginal families and communities, and maintaining work/family balance
• Complicated family issues tackled by psychologists both as objects of research interest and also in applied areas such as relationship counselling, child support, and preventing child abuse and maltreatment

Question 11

Historical changes within families and communities

Answer 11

• Families historically assumed responsibility for care of children
• Children generally grow up and develop in families
  o Members of families influence, directly and indirectly, children’s development, behaviour, feelings and ways of thinking
• Families can protect children from dangers in wider community
  o Can also pose risks for children by not providing optimum conditions for development
• Traditional definition of family has changed in past few decades
• One main reason for changing structure of families is change in workforce participation by women with children
• Another factor influencing nature of families is reduction in number of children in families
• Parents having fewer children later in life
• Improvements and health care mean babies born healthier and live beyond infancy, adults live longer
• Another issue affecting families is increased mobility of workforce
• No longer grow up, marry and continue to live in same community as rest of family
• Family membership is changing as partners divorce and remarry, as new children are born and as grandparents die

Question 12

Stanley, Richardson and Prior (2004)

Answer 12

• Paint very bleak pictures of families in the 21st families
• List five areas of change in Australian society that have impacted negatively on children’s health and development:

1. Demographic changes – namely, fewer children in families and people living longer
2. Economic changes such as globalisation and a focus on competition and profits
3. Women in workforce, and the impact on caring for children, given difficulties in access to quality out-of-home childcare
4. Changes in family structure
5. Increased technologies such as computers, Internet and mobile phones have contributed to children spending less time playing, running around and getting physical exercise, which contributes to increased levels of obesity

• Stanley and colleagues recommend ten ways in which Australian society should put children and young people ‘first’
  o Including social equality, societal valuing of parenting, valuing children as children and not as little adults, using prevention strategies to improve and strengthen families and communities, and providing safe environments for children

Question 13

Grandparenting

Answer 13

• Grandparents play important role in child’s life

o Traditionally grandparents were regarded as knowledgeable and loving elders whose role in child rearing was to dispense good advice, cuddles and tell stories about ‘old days’

• Nowadays grandparents less likely to be white haired, frail and retired from workforce

o Instead have full and active life of their own, regarding their own child-rearing duties over, and enjoying the ‘empty nest’, a life without dependent children

• Grandparents attracted interest in more recent times because of policy concerns about grandparents who have assumed sole responsibility for care of grandchildren
  o Due to family break-up or because either or both parents not capable of providing appropriate care (illness, substance and drug abuse, or death)