The term "parenting" is a derivative of the word "parent" taken as a verb. When people say "to parent" a child it means "to be a parent," or "to fulfill parental duties." Since everyone who has a child has to parent he or she has their own view on what their parental duties are. Generally, the majority of parents admit that those duties are to provide for the basic needs of a child - the child's need for security and development. This implies security and development of a child's body, mind and psyche. In other words, it is physical, intellectual, and emotional security and development.
Parenting is usually done
in a child's family by the mother and/or father (i.e., the
biological parents). When parents are unable or unwilling
to provide this care, it is usually undertaken by close relatives,
such as older siblings, aunts and uncles, or grandparents.
In other cases, children may be cared for by adoptive parents,
foster parents, godparents, or in institutions (such as
group homes or orphanages). There are also circumstances, such as on a kibbutz,
where parenting is an occupation even when biological parents exist.
Parens patriae refers to the public policy power of the state to usurp
the rights of the natural parent, legal guardian or informal
caregiver, and to act as the parent of any child or individual
who is in need of protection (i.e. if the child's caregiver is exceedingly
violent or dangerous).
Parental duties:- There
is general consensus around parents providing the
basic necessities, with increasing interest in children's rights within the
home environment.
1. Providing physical security:- Providing
physical security refers to a safety of a child's body, safety of a
child's life.
* To provide physical
safety: shelter, clothes, nourishment
* To protect a child from dangers; physical care
* To care for a child's health
2. Providing physical development:- Developing
a child physically refers to providing a conditions
to a healthy growth of a child.
* To
provide a child with the means to develop physically
* To train the body of a child, to introduce to sport
* To develop habits of health
* Physical games
3. Providing intellectual
security:- Intellectual security
refers to the conditions, in which a child's mind can
develop. If the child's dignity is safe, that
is nobody encroaches upon a child physically or verbally, then he is
able to learn.
* To provide
an atmosphere of peace and justice in family, where no one's dignity is encroached
upon.
* To provide "no-fear," "no-threat,"no-verbal
abuse" environment
* To spend bonding times and share wonderful moments with children.
4. Providing intellectual
development:- Intellectual
development means providing opportunity to a child to learn-to learn
about laws of nature and moral laws.
* Reading,
writing, calculating etc.
* Intellectual games
* Social skills and etiquette
* Moral and spiritual development
* Ethics and value systems
* Norms and contributions to the child's belief and cultural customs
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