Mid-Term Quiz Question #2
Consider how cultural values are transmitted to children (including hatred and aggression as well as democracy and cooperation). If you were conducting a parent educational group, how would you help parents to encourage cultural values of democracy and cooperation in their children?
From the outset of our experience as human beings, we are in constant communication with the world around us. Very little of the seminal communication that informs our worldview is comprised of verbal messages such as: don’t trust those people, or cooperate with your neighbor.
ReplyDeleteJust as the temperature informs us of how to dress in the morning, and our hunger (and maybe health goals/ mood/ and availability of food) informs our dietary decisions; we are always shaping (and being shaped by) those relationships that are the fibers that make up our social fabric. One of the strongest influential factors on our global perspective is the communication and relationship that we have with our parents/ caregivers in the formative years of our development.
In her article “Defining Social Work for the 21st Century” Isodora Hare cites the new definition of social work adopted in Montreal. This document, in part, reads:
“The social work profession promotes social change, problem-solving in human relationships, and empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being” (Hare p. 409)
So then, taking into account the power of communication as well as the magnitude of early parent/ child relationships in a context of promoting social change, empowerment, and the enhancement of well being, the following ideas about conducting a Parent Education Group are set forth for review.
If I were to conduct parent education in a group setting with the goals of encouraging cultural values of democracy and cooperation among the children of group members, I would take the following steps.
1.) I would ensure that the group setting is a safe place for participants to explore themselves, their family relationships and family dynamics. I would begin our time together with a conversation about safety and respect. This conversation would necessarily result in group agreement upon ground rules to which we all agree to adhere.
2.) I would begin our “work” where the clients are. To do this, I would:
• Encourage clients to explore their understandings of cultural values.
• What is it that they believe about child rearing, effective communication, spousal cooperation, and family roles?
• I would be interested in gaining their impressions, understandings, and feelings about democracy, cooperation, and tolerance.
• What is it that these terms mean to them?
• How do these concepts already show up in their family life?
• Gently, I would encourage clients to locate the space between their “ideal” and “actual” parenting style.
3.) I would introduce a time of Psycho Education to the group’s process. We would go over communication and generational transmission of values from parents to children.
• What does it mean to communicate?
• How do we communicate?
• Verbal/ Non Verbal
• Tone/ Pitch/ Volume/ Emphasis
• Time spent
• Modeling behavior to our children/ Teaching by example
• What are things that we have learned from our parents?
• What are things that our children have learned from us?
4. I would encourage the group to brainstorm, generating a list of ideas. This list would be comprised of things that they already do or things that they would be willing to do differently in an effort to work towards giving their children a better vision of democracy and tolerance in action.
I believe a lot of this starts in their own homes and community. So focusing on how they treat and discipline their own children would be where I could start this kind of educational group. Bonta speaks a lot to this idea. It would be important to look at the community and the culture surrounding the parents. Looking at the parents interactions with each other can be important to as the Hart and Nelson article discusses. This would be a good time to apply narrative techniques and look at parental stories. Some cultures of peace and cooperation focus on the good of the people and devalue competitive spirits (Bonta 1997). Universality can be a very dangerous thing - at times focusing more on "generating global definitions and
ReplyDeletestandards which further distance us from those whom we seek to serve" which Grey and Fook discuss in their article. It would be beneficial for the parents to see what things they are valuing, whether it is on purpose or accidental. I would encourage parents to look at the activities they encourage their kids to be involved with and the conversations surrounding these activities and other aspects of the child's life. Parental conversations and actions are influential in their child's life. Again, education is important. That the parent is able to vocalize their personal values and cultural values to their children is important particularly in a Western culture.
In my personal (and very limited) experience in not only running groups but also conducting family therapy, I have found that it is usually a losing battle to step into a situation where you have little or no built up rapport and attempt to “educate” anyone, especially when they may have their own views that are polar opposite to those you are trying to impart on them. I think that it is also very difficult for most people to focus during an educational group, especially when it is involuntary. I further think it is damaging to therapeutic rapport to constantly question one’s beliefs from the very beginning, even if we are very certain that they are “wrong,” or at the very least hurtful.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I think that it is very effective to show people information whenever possible as opposed to telling them anything. Just as you can enter a situation, especially all of us as very young, mostly female and often Caucasian interns, and completely erase so many stereotypes simply by giving clients the opportunity to get to know us on a professional level and see another side they may have overlooked, it is much more powerful to instill such large and complicated concepts as cultural openness and democratic cooperation by showing someone how it works.
Rather than leading an educational group on such an important subject, I think it would be most effective to disguise this true goal under another equally therapeutic but extremely interactive educational group. When individuals are given the space to interact with one another in an intentional and non-threatening way, a lot of these very important principles tend to happen on their own. It is important to focus on what everyone shares as fellow “travelers to the grave” for lack of a more upbeat term. When you get to these shared experiences and emotions, and you can associate them with individuals from different backgrounds, these differences become very superficial. It is hard to continue to focus on them when you are moved by heavier emotional content that you yourself also share.
I realize that this is difficult to accomplish, especially in short term group therapy or in single shot groups where individuals might only participate together this one time. This is why I think it is more effective to construct these types of groups around a more universal and “human” topic with a multicultural audience rather than attempting to teach someone how to “accept” someone else’s differences. I think that everyone is well aware that there are many different types of people in this world, and they would not be hard pressed to come up with myriad reasons as to why someone is different from themselves. What is far more valuable is to realize how we are all the same. Once we have realized this, we are far more likely to be motivated to understand and embrace one another's differences; seeing each other as human however must always come first.
Cultural values are transmitted to children by everyone in their lives but primarily by their parents. Rogoff (2003) argues that human development can only truly be understood within an individual’s culture. Each culture emphasizes the importance of different values and beliefs. Culture writes the rules of society and influences parental practices. Mothers adhere to culturally specific socialization goals when raising their children. This is further discussed by Bonta (1997), nonviolent communities socialize their children in specific cultural ways to meet specific cultural goals of nonviolence. All that the children have ever seen or experienced has transmitted cultural expectations to the child, for example the stories told to children in the Iflaluk community that a ghost will come “get them” if they misbehave.
ReplyDeleteWhen working with parents in an educational group it is important to remember that the conception of parenting takes places within a wider social context, in various environments, and in the case of immigrant parents, in two different cultures. Dual cultural interplay has a great effect on how the families raise their children and what cultural beliefs and values they adhere to. When working with parents in an educational group it would be necessary to understand several overarching themes that had an effect on the parenting including; the parent’s racial and cultural identity, education, sense of self, experience of immigration and process of acculturation. These themes were all influential to the parenting style and determined how they would educate and socialize her child in the values and beliefs of their culture. It would be important as a social worker leading a parent group to encourage the participants to be reflective about their cultural values and the possible meaning behind these values. Then a social worker could address what values of democracy and cooperation mean to the parents. Once the group has created a good understanding of these prosocial values the social worker could facilitate a discussion on how these values align with the parent’s cultural values.
The social worker can address the parents from a strengths based perspective and identify the parents as the expert on their family’s world, by first encouraging the parents to be reflective on their own cultural values. As a facilitator the social worker must not assume anything, rather one should ask specific questions in order to determine how culture affects their parenting practices. There could be deeply engrained meaning into the values and traditions that the clients teach their children and one can never know this unless they ask and respect the answer that is given. Only by developing this type of relationship with the members of the parenting group can the social worker have a chance at affecting change in promoting democracy or cooperation.
Parents are first and the most important factor, which influences child’s becoming an individuality. Relationship and communication between parents and a child are first and the most innermost model of communication. According the article “Child-rearing attitudes and behavioral inhibition in Chinese and Canadian toddlers: a cross-cultural study” the idea is that, parents interpret and respond to child behavior in accordance with culturally prescribed expectations and socialization goals. This idea a really great.
ReplyDeleteIf I had to conduct parent education in a group I would organize a conversation. I would talk with parents about children, their children’s good characteristic. Also, later I would ask about parent’s childhood. It is useful to know their childhood situation, to remember and compare these situations. My question will be about safety, understanding between them and their parents. Also I would ask about relationship and communication. After that it will be very important to know about nowadays situation in this family. Is it the same or totally different? I also would ask about empathy? Do they often think from children perspective?
Family is a basic agency, where children may learn democracy and cooperation. But all people are different and sometimes there is aggression, hatred like cultural values in the family. Sometimes people are thinking that children are small and they do not understand anything. I would ask them to play some life situations like children are playing. These situations demonstrate other sides of understanding. Children are imitating the family life. So parents should be the best example for children and to be patient, loving, careful, tolerant.
To sum up, a social worker could be like a cord between parents and children. He helps for parents to understand about parents meaning for children. Parents are conveying cultural values to children. This is a very important point and parents should understand this. Parent educational group are the fascinating method to learn more about cultural values. Parents learnt to understand the meaning of communication between children and parent.
If I lead an educational group for parents, I would encourage parents to spend more time with their children, to play various games that would encourage cooperation rather than competition. I would encourage parents to prevent children from playing computer games for a long time, because the most computer games stimulates rivalry, competition, desire to win, it can develop children's aggressiveness. I would encourage parents to take responsibility for their children, for their future and the well-being and not expect that educational institutions will do that for them. I would teach parents not to say lie to their children (even about Santa Claus), honesty - is a valuable asset, which in our society lacks today. I would teach parents to love and respect their children, to be interested in their feelings and be sensitive. I would encourage parents to involve children into the decision-making process within the family, for example, when planning vacations, the children also have the right to choose where to go, how to spend their leisure time, and so on.
ReplyDeleteI think a big problem is the increasing divorce rate. The divorce in most cases causes damage for children. Disagreements, anger, competition, feuding families nurture hatred and aggression to the children. To avoid this it is important that parents also learn to respect one another, love one another, embrace one another. If family relations are based on cooperation, respect and love, then children grow safe and happy. Only a loving and harmonious family can develop the values of democracy and cooperation in the children.
In my opinion everything good or bad what children learning first is taking from home and from parents, therefore which cultural values parents have or don’t have, how do they understand it influence on children’s life and then on forming theirs cultural values.
ReplyDeleteCultural values have unique differences in different communities, but also similarities like concepts of democracy, peace and cooperation.
Therefore in parent educational group I would like to focus on parents’ understanding of cultural values, which values and why are important for them and understanding of theirs’ parenting styles which the use in families.
First, we will try to know each other to make a warm atmosphere in group by listening about each other, relationships between parent and child. Very carefully I will try to know about their parenting styles and we will discuss the most suitable and good in their opinion parenting style in family.
Then at next meeting we will understand what are the main cultural values for everyone, and which values they would like their children to have for sure and why.
Also I would like to know about their feelings and understanding such concepts of democracy and cooperation and if it’s assist in their everyday life.
I would like to play some games, for example painting a common picture about cooperation in their family and after I would like to have feedback from each parent about our meeting.
And at last meeting I want to speak about their everyday activities and in which child activity parents are included. We will speak about importance of children group activity because by that children learn about cooperation and respect to each other.
After we will speak about their feelings during group work, what was useful and new for them and what was useless. I would like to ask them how we can continue this group work and which themes will be more interesting for them.
I think that the concepts of democracy and cooperation are very meaningful in our global society, and we as social workers have to help parents to pass on these cultural values to children.
great group ideas. I like the activity Olga. I also like that you turn control to the group on what they want to explore and what is interesting to them!
ReplyDeleteThank you Kaitlyn :)
ReplyDeleteI like your ideas about influence of parental conversations and actions in child's life.
Actually I think it was the most interesting question for me :)
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ReplyDeleteCultural values seem to be engrained in children’s brains at a very young age. Children learn from their parents or guardian and are very susceptible to their environment in which they are raised in. Without being able to communicate explicitly, it seems babies and children can feel either the loving cooperative environment they are in or the aggressive, hatred environment they are in. Therefore, I think it is important to create an environment where the values that you wish to raise your child in are a part of your entire life. In the article about Cooperation and Competition by Bruce Bonta (1997) he compares a cooperative society vs. a competitive society and how children react to both. By bombarding children at a young age with competition, like board games, video games etc. it allows children to become aggressive. However, by eliminating these activities children’s play is far more cooperative and peaceful. This begins to question other influences that may seem harmless, but can begin to teach children unpleasant values and behaviors.
ReplyDeleteIf I were conducting a parent educational group I would begin by speaking with the parents about their own values and beliefs and what they want their children’s values to be. I think it is important to establish this important framework first. I would then encourage the parents to begin to think about what signals they believe they are sending their children by their own behavior, by games, television shows, movies, and other forms that they may not think of. I would then do an educational piece about what these activities and behaviors are teaching their children, and then explore how that is similar or different than what they want to show their children. The group then may go over activities that they could do in their house that eliminate competition and encourage cooperation. I think that people, especially parents, really try to do the best they can. They may not be aware of the example they are showing their children, so I think the group would include a heavy degree of awareness and education. It would then begin to explore other resources and activities that the parents could begin to use to deter this behavior in the house.
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ReplyDeleteCultural values, like hatred and aggression or democracy and cooperation, can be transmitted to children in many ways. Children start learning to understand culture and the goals and intentions of others very early in their development (Tomasello, 2004). By 14 months, children understand others as “animate, goal-directed, and intentional agents,” and possess “a species-unique motivation to share emotions, experience, and activities with other persons” (Tomasello, 2004). Learning these interactional concepts and intentions happens by nature, as Tomasello notes above, and by nurture, the way a child’s cognition and understanding of the world, and his or her place in it, are shaped through interaction with his or her environment.
ReplyDeleteCommunity values, parenting styles, and the level of violence in a community and a parents’ reaction to that violence all play a significant role in children’s understanding of cultural values like aggression or cooperation. In a survey of nonviolent societies, Bonta (1997) noted that children grow up to value cooperation by never playing competitive games and being taught that they are no more important than those around them. Aggression and violence are viewed as unthinkable and absolutely out of the question (Bonta, 1997). A study conducted in Russia focused on the effect of parenting styles on the level of aggressive behavior in preschool aged children (Hart et al, 1998). Increased levels of aggression in this sample were related to high levels of parental coercion and psychological control and low levels of parent responsiveness.
Parenting styles are also an important factor for children growing up in areas of acute or chronic violence. A study on the effects of political violence on Palestinian children’s behavioral problems found that an accumulation of risk factors, like high levels of community violence and high levels of family negativity or violence, lead to an increased number of behavioral problems in children (Garbarino & Kostelny, 1996). When levels of family support and well-being were high, behavioral problems, including aggression, were significantly lower, which shows how much of an impact parents can have on children’s understanding of cultural (Garbarino & Kostelny, 1996).
If I were conducting a parent educational group, I would help parents to encourage cultural values of democracy and cooperation in their children by teaching parents about their role in a child’s level of aggression per the ideas examined above, like parent responsiveness and encouraging cooperative games over competitive ones. In an article by Garbarino et al (2002) called “Mitigating the Effects of Gun Violence on Children and Youth,” the authors point out that a parent’s level of functioning and his or her response to a traumatic event is the best indicator of a child’s reaction to that traumatic event. If parents do not make themselves emotionally available to their children after a traumatic event, children will not learn effective coping skills to deal with similar events in the future, which could increase the likelihood of aggression (Garbarino et al, 2002). In my group, I would make sure to educate parents about the importance of their own mental health. Having their own ability to model appropriate coping skills and strategies will allow parents to be emotionally available to their children, thus encouraging cooperative and democratic cultural values. The article also suggests that parents should learn to take preventative measures to protect children against violence. Monitoring a child’s environment and monitoring the media a child is exposed to can help prevent a child from internalizing violent and aggressive values (Garbarino et al, 2002).
In leading a educational parenting group, many factors would have to be taken into account by the leader. The cultural backgrounds of of the parents would be the first thing to consider- are the parents immigrants from a country that values peaceful actions? Or are they from a war torn country where democracy is smothered? If the latter is the case, as a leader of this group, I would try my best to present the values this culture we live in esteems to be the strongest. This in itself poses trouble as a social worker should remain open minded and never try to force or impose a belief on clients.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, as a leader of a group I would try to present what Hart presents in his article; essentially that children learn from an early age from the words and actions their parents make. Informing parents that their anger towards other or one another is seen and absorbed by their children even if the parents do not think their children are listening or watching. I would emphasize to parents that they should try to present the beliefs and cultural values, like democracy and cooperation, to their children through their actions. Teaching parents how to break their bad habits of fighting in front of their children or reacting to situations in which they display their frustration with a violent outburst would be my primary focus for changing coping mechanisms for these parents.
Mike- great response! You seem to have thought of every angle and done a thorough job in considering the client's process from start to finish in the group.
ReplyDeleteRasa,
ReplyDeleteI think that a very strong aspect of your response to the question is the idea of treating the family as a whole. Focusing on honesty, respect, cooperation and family unity (in any culture) is foundational to the health of that family unit. Thank you for sharing.
Barbara Rogoff (2003) states, “Human development is a cultural process. We are prepared by both our cultural and biological heritage to use language and other cultural tools and to learn from each other” (p.3). In other words, we are born as participants whose development can only be understood in light of our ever changing communities, which are made up of cultural values, beliefs, practices, and experiences. In addition, Rogoff (2003) also states, “What [people] do depends in important ways on the cultural meaning given to the events and the social and institutional supports provided in their communities for learning and carrying specific roles in the activities” (p.6). Thus, there are cross-cultural variations in how children develop into adults because of social construction.
ReplyDeleteGiven this information, it would be difficult to help parents encourage the cultural values of democracy and cooperation in their children without knowing the meanings each parent and/or family give to each concept. Additionally, parents may believe in using different child-rearing techniques to develop these values in their children and who is to say one is right or wrong or better than another. Perhaps these are issues the worker could introduce to the parents and ask for their perspectives. After discussing the meanings of the concepts and their opinions on how to instill them in children perhaps the worker could introduce various literature such as Bonta’s (1997) article, Cooperation and Competition in Peaceful Societies. This way the group could talk about the various strategies for instilling cooperation which Bonta (1997) discusses, such as ignoring the child’s tantrums once he/she is a certain age, teasing them, actively creating ambiguous non-violent/violent situations for them, and scaring them into fearing aggression and the results of not following their society’s rules of nonviolence. In this way there could be a conversation about how different these strategies are from traditional Western ones and how they see the connection between different child-rearing techniques and the transmission of aggression and cooperation. The group could also consider if some or any of these techniques can be used in our culture to instill these same values. Most importantly, I think the worker should convey that there is no right or wrong answer and that they must find a common ground and educate each other. In other words, I would like to create what Gonzalez-Mena (2008) refers to as a third space, which “isn’t a compromise, but a whole new territory” (p.56). By doing this we can integrate aspects of diverse values, beliefs, and behaviors perhaps creating completely new, more useful strategies.
Cultural values are transmitted to children through parents, peers, religion, the media, and the community they live in. Often times the most salient cultural values are shown through the modeling of family and friends. The way that parents treat their children and what rules are in place in the children’s household often teach them who they should become. It can be hard to transmit values such as cooperation and democracy to their children because of these other sources such as community and peer relations. In the article “Cooperation and Competition in Peaceful Societies” by Bonta (1997) he explains that the ideas of cooperation are carried out from parents to children in societies that are already highly non-violent easily but that western cultures may have a more difficult time encouraging this (p.303). Many families in western societies are focused on the individual and tell their children to chase their biggest dream no matter who tries to bring you down. We are forced to be somewhat competitive from the mere fact that we live in a competitive society.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to run a parent education group that encouraged parents cultural values of democracy and cooperation I would first have to model these values in the group. By allowing each individual in the group to have their own say along with a common bond of wanting the greater good the parents may see the need for these values in the first place. Since we do live in a western society it would first be respectful to understand the beliefs of the parents in the group that are coming from this individualistic western culture. There may be parents who agree with these values and others who do not see them as important as individualism. By allowing the parents to have their own opinions without forcing the ideas on them they will be able to express their own self-determination in parenting their children. Since ultimately these parents are in control and the experts of their children’s lives, they will be more apt to listen if they are listened to first. By prefacing the group as suggestions and help on how to foster a positive environment for their children they may be willing to talk about some of these values. I would first want to ask many questions to the group about their own values and experiences with topics such as cooperation and democracy along with many others. If the group is too focused on those two topics they may just feel that they are being dragged into something that feels uncomfortable to them.
It would be beneficial to explain how parenting can inspire democracy and cooperation such as encouraging non-violent activities and focusing on the fun of the game rather than who wins. Once these topics start to emerge on their own through discussion in the parenting group, explaining what cooperation is along with the benefits may allow the parents to see the use of these types of values. For example, Bonta (1997) says that “mental health and self-esteem are more positive among students in cooperative learning situations” (p.301). Encouraging give and take with their children such as allowing children to help make decisions with the parent as they grow up but teaching them that ultimately the parent is in charge can allow for democracy in a household. Bringing up questions such as “when do your children seem more cooperative rather than competitive” and “do you think this is important in your child’s life” can make them think about how these values are already in their lives in some way. If they think they are important, they can foster these ideas more often in their child’s life. Talking about goals that parents have for their children along with tying it together with the ideas of cooperation and democracy can make it more personal for each family.
I believe that culture is something that is often communicated non-verbally. “Culture is a series of constantly contested and negotiated social practices whose meanings are influenced by the power and status of their interpreters and participants” (Healy, 2008, p.244-245). This concept of culture is thus dependent on the individuals who engage in its practices. Therefore, culture then becomes communicated unconsciously in responses and reactions to social interactions.
ReplyDeleteIn the article Globalization of consciousness and new challenges for international social work, the author discusses “that people in different parts of the world strive for similar goals and life ideals and are thus confronted with similar problems” (Ahamadi, 2003, p.14). This concept suggests that individuals, despite culture, basically deal with the same struggles. I believe this would be a uniting concept for parents across numerous cultures. As parenting is a particularly stressful and rewarding job the individual is often extremely invested in this role. I believe that this is an important component to helping individuals embrace ideals like democracy and peace-making.
In conducting an educational group for parents I would like to have an open discussion about the concept of culture and how the parents believe this process takes place. By understanding how the group conceptualizes culture I will be able to discuss the impact of these beliefs on their children. Furthermore, I think it would be useful to have the parents verbalize how they would exhibit behaviors of democracy or peace-making. In attempting to have a discussion on these abstract concepts I would encourage parents to analyze their own beliefs and behaviors and how this is communicated to their children.
As Bonta’s (1997) work clearly shows, cultural values, such as hatred and aggression as well as democracy and cooperation, are transmitted to children from their parents. Children, therefore, are not innately competitive, aggressive or racist, but they are conditioned to exhibit those traits by their parents.
ReplyDeleteThe first step to helping parents to encourage cultural values of democracy and cooperation in their children is to assess the parents’ cultural background and explore the ways in which they had their cultural values transmitted to them. Addressing parents’ attitudes towards cultures and values is an important precursor to educating them about how to address those issues with their children.
The next step would be to educate parents on the importance of being a good model for their children. Parents need to learn that children imitate the actions of those around them, and if they want their children to cooperate they need to be a good example. For instance, a very important cultural value, tolerance, is one that is often taught in subtle ways. Even before they can speak, children closely watch — and imitate — their parents. Therefore, parents must monitor closely what they say and how they say it.
For instance, many parents live and work in diverse communities and have friends who are different from themselves in some (or in many) ways. Parents' attitudes about respecting others are often so much a part of them that they rarely even think about it. They teach those attitudes simply by being themselves and living their values. Parents who demonstrate (or model) tolerance in their everyday lives send a powerful message. As a result, their kids learn to appreciate differences, too.
Furthermore, encouraging parents to engage children in play that fosters cooperation would also be of great importance. Much of what children do is in the form of play – play is how children communicate the world and play is how children learn. Therefore, educating parents about the types of games that encourage teamwork and cooperation that children can play and learn from can also prove to be useful.
I agree with Michael that children are influenced all the time by their surrounding and especially their attachment figures such as the family, peer groups, teachers, and so on. In a parental educational group social workers can help to rise awareness in terms how parents serve as role-models, either good or bad ones. Our social environment transmits the values that we adopt and integrate in our morality, which, like Alicia said, is established by our culture.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Deutsch (1949) it might be recommendable to emphasize the importance of cooperation in the parental group, as cooperation implies the need of participation by others in order to achieve the goal, which in turn leads to an attitude refraining from individualism and towards collectivism. According to Bonta (p. 313) one could further encourage parents to promote non-competitive behavior, harmony in family life, and the virtue of nonviolence than over competitive activities such as ritualized sports to achieve social cohesion and civic pride. Parents should be encouraged to serve as an example for cooperative and peaceful behavior. Bonta reminds that if children observe only positive - in terms of peaceful and cooperative - behavior, they start to absorb it and demonstrate anti-competitive, cooperative values themselves.
However, every social worker has to bear in mind that the morality depends on the cultural values, which ought to be respected. Cultural competency and knowledge on the culture of the parents is necessary to avoid a "cultural oppression" which is not only harmful to the relation with the parents, but also counterproductive in terms of the efficiency of the parental group. I think it is important to find a common dominator, values that are accepted and considered as crucial in both cultures, the one of the social worker and of the parents. In the end, all parties have the common objective to do what is best for the child and to accomplish in it a sense for justice, democracy and a non-violence and cooperative attitude.
In considering how cultural values are transmitted to children, I look to my up bringing in the United States as a first generation Filipino-American. My parents came here for the same reasons that many have come here: opportunity, democracy, and freedom. It was difficult for my parents to acculturate, and just as difficult for me to accept both the American culture and the traditional culture my parents were raised in and instilled within our home. For my parents, it was important that I was given the opportunity of democracy and cooperation.
ReplyDeleteWith respect to the Bonta (1997), I believe that children learn the values accepted by our societies or cultures. I was lucky enough to be allotted two cultures or environments to gain positive and strong values from. According to the Hare (2004) article, “people are affected by their environments” (p. 410).
In conducting a parent educational group, I would apply a biopsychosocial perspective. I think it is first important for parents to first understand the values and culture they were provided or have an understanding of and in turn were affected by. It is important for parents to realize the values they hold in highest regards, because those values will inevitably come across to their children via language and behavior. Second, it would be necessary to compare those values against the society in which they live in order to understand where their values derive from. In a review of their values, it may be important to categorize their beliefs as Bonta has (violent and non-violent) in some form. Once established, psychoeducation would be important to assist them in modeling their learned values or the new values they may want to instill within their children.
It’s important to understand that kids pick up everything they see in the home/surroundings. So these cultural values must start with the parents, and the leading by example. If I conducted a group, I would advise parents to perform volunteer activities with their children. Whether is serving at a homeless shelter or even helping out at a toy drive, children would then begin to understand these cultural values. I would also want children to learn about the different cultures and how they differ from the United States. Creating this morality, will greatly influence children. It’s in this moral framework that you have an idea of cultural values of democracy and leads to cooperation and change. In Pettifor- Professional Ethics Across National Boundaries he states, “Cross-cultural consensus on specific behaviors is unlikely to be achieved, and even if there were consensus, there is no international body with the authority to regulate. The focus on moral principles is based on the belief that there are common values regarding human life and that the specific standards of behavior that follow will vary with different religious, social, and political beliefs, and conditions.” So by teaching parents (and parents teaching children) about different cultures and values regarding human life, there would be a greater understanding of cultural values of democracy.
ReplyDeleteMichael, I like how you clearly structured your parental group and emphasized important features such as the safe and respectful environment, "picking the clients up where they are" (as we have been taught throughout our entire studies of social work both in the US and Germany :), and that you try to actually understand the parents' conception of the terms democracy, cooperation, and tolerance, which I agree is crucial for a fruitful collaboration with the parents. I very much like that you would give the parents the chance to come up with own ideas, to be empowered by the social worker, but not in a paternal way. The clients have to establish ways to contribute to a positive development of their child towards a cooperative and tolerant attitude, but are given the tools by the social worker. Good job!
ReplyDeleteStephanie, I agree with you that it is very important for the group of parents to determine what the values of cooperation and democracy mean to them. If the worker imposed their own definition on the group then it would disempower the parents and take away the notion that they are their own expert. In order to affect genuine change there must be an honest dialogue between participants of what these values mean to them and how similiar or different they may be from their own cultural values.
ReplyDeletePhil I agree 100% that its important to categorize their beliefs as Bonta has (violent and non-violent) in some form. Once this is established, psychoeducation is important to assist them in modeling their learned values or the new values they may want to instill within their children. It starts and ends with the parents so it’s important that they understand the various cultural values of democracy.
ReplyDeleteTransmiting process of cultural values to children depends on many factors. It is hard to name one major factor, because they depend on the situation. I listed several possible factors for you to understand what I mean. This includes:
ReplyDelete• Family
• Friends
• Middle School (in the broad sense)
• Social status
• Parental environment (social)
• Leisure
• And others.
These factors are not numerated in order of importance, so do not assess this as a rating. In fact, all of these factors may operate at different strengths, depending on the situation. Also, some factors may be direct and some indirect. Direct factors are those which are closest to the child, what means that the child is constantly confronted with them directly, such as parents (if the child lives with parents). Indirect factor could be an example of parental environment (parents work, parents friends and others) that does not work for child directly, but may act by its parents. This means that parents gets values from their environment and transmit them to the children. In that case, children could be as well as the agent of a factor, because they can transmit the values for their friends. Thus, a child who receives the values of the indirect method, could give them to others by direct way. This creates a value transferring system, which goes beyond the boundaries of the family circle.
I would like to comment on another aspect - the leisure. Maybe somebody thought that this does not affect childrens‘ values, but I think it is a powerful force that creates not the only values but also interpersonal relationships. Thus, the values of leisure may act according to what it is. TV and the media suppose to promote a range of attitudes and values, which can carry a child while watching movies, advertisements, and various programs which are watching by adults and so on. Children‘s values could be take by šlubs or activities in which child is participating and which advocates a range of values.
I would also like to talk about how positive values (cooperation and understanding of democracy), and negative values (aggression and hatred) are transmitting. It is transmitted in the same way, but depends on the kind of environment in which the child grows up and what values (positive or negative) are more pronounced. Values of the child may develop as a defense mechanism. If a child is abused or constantly keeping punish, he may act aggressively to defend ourselves and this behavior can become the norm, which can be transfered to others.
Thus, through parents‘ groups should focus on what key how factors influence childrens‘ values and to teach parents to monitor the changing environment, children‘s behavior and learning to be interested how your child is understanding the processes which are taking plane in their life. The social worker should prepare the parents‘ responsibility to watch through your values which you are transmitting to child. And another thing is child‘s behavior which the child may take over as the norm. Also, teach children to select those things that could have negative and positive implications for their lives. First, parents need to understand that children‘s personality formation is a very important step.
I think, cultural values are something that is very deep in our identity, and changing them will be a difficult and slow. Cultural values are over-generational and are transmitted from parents to children. Parents are in the main role to cut the chain of negative cultural values such as hatred and aggression. After the movie Shooting dogs, participating the event about Khojaly genocide organized by Azerbaijani students, and reading a book about Lithuanian Jews, I have been thinking much about genocides and reasons for those cruelties. I partly believe that people, who are able to kill other people just because of their ethnicity, have to be affected by negative cultural values as hatred all their life. Those, who have been involved in this kind of extreme cruelty like genocide, have been thought to hate “others” already when they were children. But as well, the public education can transmit cultural values. For example, in countries, where democracy has been part of their cultural values long time, the ideals of democracy have been transmitted to children also in schools.
ReplyDeleteAs a social worker conducting a parent educational group I would put parents to discuss about cultural values. At first I would ask, what do parents want for their children? I believe that every parent wants just best for their children. That is why, secondly, I would ask parents to describe, which kind of world and culture they are living? And finally, I would ask, is this world and culture the same, where they want their children to grow up and to live? This kind of group would be also a good place to bring people of different ethnicity together and face their fear and hatred, if there are parents who bear negative cultural values. The group would be a safe and free place for that. However, the change comes from people themselves. And they have to understand the impacts of their acting, but also the power which they have to make change. As a social worker I can only encourage parents to use that power for their children and future.
Nurture versus nature is always the debate. However, many studies have been shown that it is a combination of both that makes for a more holistic perspective of parenting. Cultural values are a learned quality. As democracy and cooperation are cultural values, it can be a difficult to teach and/or learn at any stage in human life. We have seen over a period of time that lathering developing countries with our political and life values has not work. Rather, a more culturally competent/sensitive approach is more affective and much better received by the people we are trying to reach. Telling people how to raise their children can be a sensitive topic for most; however, Bonta has many good points about the Western style of raising our own children.
ReplyDeleteIn the article about Cooperation and Competition by Bruce Bonta (1997) he compares a cooperative society vs. a competitive society and how children react to both. Competion is a value that we instill in our young. Competition can be a double edge sword because, it can be argued, that held as a value is what propels us to economic prosperity, yet allows us to devalue human life, as we know it. Though some may cringe when reading Bonta’s theory on child rearing practices, I think it is something we can learn from.
If I were running a parenting group I would begin with trying to understand what values of democracy and cooperation mean to them on a culturally sensitive level. I would let the group run itself in its own cultural beliefs because as we have seen before blindly placing our own beliefs on others does not work. However, if we work with the parents with where they are at and try to have them meet us at where the data of good child rearing practices remain to cater their parenting to these good child rearing practices, values of their own definition of democracy and cooperation can be instilled in their children.
Competition, cooperation and individualism are defined by (Deutsch, 1949, 1973; Johnson Maruyama, Johnson, Nelson, & Skon, 1981) as three types of goal structures: competitive goal structures, in which the attainment of interlinked goals is negatively correlated among different people; cooperative goal structures, in which there is a positive correlation for people whose interlinked goals are attained; and individualistic goal structures, in which goals are not linked at all (Bonta, 1997, p. 2). Competition—people attain their goals only if other participants do not—cooperation—people attain their goals only when other participants do also—and individualism—people attain their goals without affecting the goal attainment of others (Johnson & Johnson, 1983). Therefore it can be said that it cyclical in nature; cooperative behavior refers to behavior based on goal structure of cooperation (Bonta, 1997, p. 2).
In the United States both cooperative and competitive values are believed simultaneously. If we take the competitive and hyper individualism piece out of the picture, cooperation is all that remains. Developmentally, I believe that it is important to nurture an infant from 2 and below. As studies have shown by Bonta, (1997) promoting over nurturing can be harmful because it promotes a hyper sense of entitlement and ultimately hyper individuation. This careful elimination of competitiveness in peaceful societies is done through no encouragement towards valuing self-achievements. Therefore, if I were running a parenting group I would promote the elimination of competitiveness in child-rearing practices.
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ReplyDeleteUndoubtedly, family is the fundamental basic of the personality of a child which formalizes in first several years and maintains with him throughout his whole later life. Of course, it is hard to make generalizations while talking about the treatment of values in all families, so, in my opinion it is good to create specific groups while conducting trainings about parental skills and educational group for parents to encourage cultural values in their children. The natural instinct of parents to give only the best to their children, to protect them from everything that can harm them is so high, that usually, they just do not notice how they are making their children selfish or timorous, how they teach them not to trust others etc.
ReplyDeleteIf I were organizing such training for parents I would try to create a specific group of different family types, where could take part members from functional families as well as from dysfunctional, complete and incomplete families, with different parenting styles and different worldwide view. I think such multiform group can have more things to share, as there will be totally different experiences and something new for other members of the group. I consider the fact that it is hard to encourage members from dysfunctional families to share their experiences with more complete families, but it is possible, if every family (or a single member of a family) would have short consultations with psychologist before entering the group. It is necessary to create the atmosphere of absolute trust and warm relations among all the participants with each other as well as with the specialists.
For sure, cultural understandings of people with different life styles and parenting ways could bring new ideas and serve an example for others, who really needed to learn something new, something different to apply in their own family. It would be good for members to start to share their experiences, personal views about different values' systems and opinions about this or another issue; little by little, and deeper during each new session. I believe that sharing can give a lot of answers to the questions of the participants and encourage them to something new.
To the end of the sessions, it could be useful to share, what new they have learned, and how they are going to use it in their later life while communicating with their children. Especially according to the ecological theoretical model it is very Important for each parent to know that creating trustful and warm atmosphere inside the family, to discuss different questions when they arise, to show interest and care to the thoughts of their children and their questions can be the most powerful thing in leading their children to behave in the same way with other people.
I believe that every family has its own culture, and those cultures are the small parts of one big the main culture, that is why it is indispensable and quite essential to keep this culture and values' systems and pass them from one generation to another.
Following state of the Russian philosopher A.I. Ilyin will conclude my thoughts about family's values and culture: "The spiritual atmosphere of a healthy family designed to instill in the child the need for pure love, a tendency for the manly sincerity and the ability to calm and dignified discipline"
Cultures reproduse themselves by transmitting core values and beliefs from generation to generation. Children are socialized within these value systems and parents and schools are the primary channels for this communication (Xenia Chryssochoou, 2004). Along with other cultural issues hatred and aggression as well as democracy and cooperation are transmitted to children through their nearest environment. But at the time of new era, where children is left after he/she aged two years when mom comes back to full time (plus overtime) job, and TV or a computer became triplet of mommy-daddy-nanny since the age of „way to early“, the nearest environment of a child became a bit questionable. Especially when the most of the cartoons include shooting, hitting, competing etc. But I‘m not going to stick to criticism of cartoons, because watching Jerry smacking Tom in the head with a frying pan did not make me a terrorist, and it‘s just a small inclusion of what Lithuanian government is fighting against to prevent aggresion of young children I wanted to mention. Even though there is an explanation for moms and dads not to have time to look after a child 24/7, they are making money to overcome financial crisis and survive the hard time.
ReplyDeleteThe rest of the values also find their own way to get into young people throuh the nearest environment and surrounding of the child. Even though children are sometimes caught between their family‘s values, practices and expectations and the values of the wider society. Sometimes that becomes an issue to overcome and tack in between and determine on his/her own cultural identity, therefore the parents should be the ones who would help children to figure it out. And the best way to do this is encourage cultural values of democracy and cooperation in their children. Bruce D. Bonta in an article “Cooperation and Competition in Peaceful Societies” stresses some ways how children are raised in peaceful societies, where there is no competition in between human beings. From my Lithuanian point of view it is hard to understand the idea of peacefulness and someone’s ability to compress bad emotions and deny a competition as such, because it still seems utopia for me, even the entity of Freedom and Peace is the great dream of mine. On the other hand I believe that people as well as children are tended to adopt role models and foster the ideas thus shaping their own perception; so more relevant idea for parents of Lithuania is to raise their children and to encourage them appreciate cultural values of democracy and cooperation would include adaptation of their own attitude to the democratic and respectful approach, being open minded, and self-determined in term of social welfare, being responsible for themselves and not confusing children hence putting them under too much different roles.
After reading various classmates post I was glad there was an agreement on how impacting the parents are on the children. I think this is such a complex relationship and I think as social workers it is important to acknowledge this. Furthermore, it was interesting to see all of the varying approaches to the conversation that they would hold with parents. Specifically, I enjoyed Gitna’s approach to discussing their children good characteristics and relating these qualities to their own childhoods and patterns of communication. I think this is an interesting way to understand how these parents perceive their own children. In addition, I enjoyed Melissa’s approach to asking parents evaluate how their preferences in cultural consumption can affect their children. This direct approach forces parents to confront what messages their behaviors are actually sending to the children. It is interesting to see how other individuals view the same situation and it displays the value of collaborative efforts with other social workers. As social workers we are often encouraged to provide resources to our clients. However, this assignment has reminded me that I have resources within my own peers.
ReplyDeleteCultural values are a constantly developing process for children. A child’s initial contact with the social world is through his/her parents and home environment, thus the way a parent understands and presents culture, religion, democracy, violence, aggression, patience, humanity, peace, racism, sexism, etc., will give that child his/her first outlook into the larger world. If we consider the child at the time of development, what he/she is learning from his/her parents will be the norm in his/her mind of the way the world is or should be. For example, a four year old girl whose mother stays home and father works will understand this to be the norm for the adult behavior and structure of men and women. It may be difficult for her to comprehend other family structures where both parents work or even single parent households. It is often seen that young girls engaging in play often “play house,” with each child taking a role of a various family member they would like to emulate, often the role of the mother being the most sought after. This role is in high regard because of how much the girl sees her mother do for her family and in relation to how much time is spent together. Because the development of the four year old girl is occurring in an environment that presents a stay at home mother and working father, this is the norm and everything else may be different or foreign for her.
ReplyDeleteThat is not to say that a child will not encounter other various environments that will present different pictures of the world and ways of understanding and developing cultural values. Consider the four year old girl above. She may go through middle and high school deciding she would like to further her education and have a career in the future. She may or may not choose to have a family after making this decision. This value shift occurs due to what she has learned through her experiences in various environments she is in, such as, what she sees and learns in school, conversations and experiences with extended family, what she sees on television, her relationships with friends and their families, etc. As this girl moves through this process and examines her own growth and development, she may look back and begin to understand that she may have grown up in a sexist environment. Her mother, grandmothers, and aunts are all stay at home mothers, while the men all work and have careers and various business ventures. These occurrences may have been the norm or the presentation that her parents were given throughout their own development about the roles or structure of men and women, and if nothing challenged these norms, or no presentations of any other possible structures were available, the same structures were then passed down through generations. This girl may feel that what she understood as normal will change as she continues to develop her own personal understanding of culture and cultural values. This could be true for any child’s development and understanding of other topics such as religion, democracy, violence, aggression, patience, humanity, peace, racism, sexism, etc.
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ReplyDeleteI feel it would be difficult to facilitate a group based around presenting ideas of democracy and cultural values to parents who may feel that they are being attacked or reprimanded for not properly presenting and demonstrating these ideas properly in their own homes. Especially with parents of various ethnic backgrounds, they may be facing their own struggles of passing down their traditions and heritage to their children who are currently developing in an environment that may not favor those principles. This could be another affirmation that the child-rearing practices and customs instilled in them are not considered to be of value in this country. If I were to be involved in a psycho-educational group for parents, I think I would highlight important elements for incorporation with their own personal parenting techniques. If we “start where the parents are at,” we can find ways to build onto their parenting styles in areas of communication, honesty, respect, relationship building, cooperation, and understanding their children’s choices without failing to recognize the strengths they already have in that area. I also feel it is important to make this an interactive group with the parents. By engaging the parents in activities and having them present real experiences in this safe and open learning environment, I believe that they will acquire more knowledge and understanding from the experience than presenting lectures and case examples for analysis.
It is evident that we all agree that parents provide the main and initial sense of culture and value to children in their early development. To expand on Grace’s comment that community values and level of violence in a community and the parents’ reaction to that violence influence the children’s understanding of these cultural perspectives and roles in it… I think when we consider educating parents on the ways to teach and present democracy and cooperation in their homes, we must consider the factors that influence and have influenced the way these parents have developed their own values and parenting techniques. We can provide psycho education to these parents and tell them that they need to instill certain values in their children, but if their natural and social environments do not support the values of nonviolence, peace, communication, safety, etc., they will find it difficult to sustain their learning when they go back to those surroundings. Therefore, we must consider providing skills and techniques that are useful to them in those environments which requires that understanding of where the parents are in their own cultural values and how that has been influenced by their surroundings. An interactive group for these parents with activities and engagement opportunities will bring out this information rather than holding lectures or series of question/answer sessions.
ReplyDeleteFamily is the first link where child‘s cultural values are being formed. I thin crucial aspect are relationships between spouses, relationships between father and child, and parent relations with enviroment. Eneven befeor child starts to talk he observs enviroment and learn. Another thing is that child try imitate parent behavior and most likely he will repeat this behavior model and it wiil become natural behavior. Of course it might be not hundret percent like this. I believe that that people is influented by learned behavior models, but also he is concious being and soner or later can choose his behavior model. But it is still important to pay attencion how it is possible to help parents to transmit that values, which could create beneficial condition to develop wellbeing.
ReplyDeleteDurning the parent teching group first important thing is group‘s memebers correlation, on what values it is build. At this point is tis important to help parent to create cooperative, democratic parent group. I think is is first step – beginning for onself. Second thing is to recognise by what values and ways group memebers where educated and what did it ment to them. To help parents to understand behavior models which they absorbed from thei parents and uses to educate thei child, helpt to understand the meaning of it. Another impoertant thing is parents‘ hopes, what is important to them, what they want to give and educate their childs. This group should help parent to share expierences, reflect their parent expierence as parents, give answers to emerging questions, reveil educational models, wich form democratic personality, talk with parent why is is important, also this group should give opportunity for parent to colloborate and that is a first step towards learning and abillity to transmit colloboration as value to their childs.
While working in intended circles for the parents, I would begin from their self-actualizing, learning to contribute or to assume responsibility for their life. Elderly parents, who grew up and worked in soviet times need to learn to offer their opinion, to name their emotions and to assume responsibility for their life and their country. Many years their opinion was unimportant and undesirable, it wasn`t important how are they feeling, unimportant their needs. For that reason it is dificult today to make sense of himself`s sensibility, needs and desires and realise that their life foremost depends on themselves. Such alterations proceeds inside of a person very slowly, need much endeavour and time, however it is very important. How the parents feel up, how they manage or do not manage to convey their love, depend their children feeling, do they get or don`t get love, safety in family, as well do they manage or don`t manage to recognize their needs and supply them. The feeling of every family society are detecting. Skills which the children attain in a family guide them in their further life – outside their home or in other countries.
ReplyDeleteIt is said that children are family‘s mirror. Behaviour of child often reflects processes that take place in his/her family, values and principles nurturance. We may wonder why? The answer is simple. Children learn from their closest environment – family, they adopt behaviour patterns, values, traditions and culture. This can be associated with social learning or imitation. Likely a child would be inclined to act violent, if she/he saw violence in the family. And contrary, a child who saw example of democracy will behave in tolerant and democratised way. A small child does not know what is wrong or right it is needed an explanation. If I were conducting a parent educational group, first of all we should discuss the matter of parents being a sample, authority for their children. In other words you have to start with yourself. Parents should show an example of how positively communicate in a family, with friends, which is acceptable behaviour and which is not. I would advise parents raise their children self-esteem and self-confidence. How to achieve this? I think it is highly important to let child participate in decision making in family or his/her matters. For example which cluster to take or what should be the colour of child‘s room. It is important not only let your child express opinion, but also take it into account. Children often disobey the rules. I would encourage parents discuss misbehaviour and its outcomes with children. It is important to keep principle – not only speech but also actions. If parents are divorced and the child lives with one of them, they should keep good relationship and don‘t poison their child‘s mind against the father or the mother. I recommend spending meaningful time as much as they can with their beloved scion. They can play together, discuss various things. During the building of their parenting style I recommend imagining that parents are children and try to realize their world, problems, expectation. Also I think that parents willing to educate their child in community and public spirit should pass on some traditions, customs, explain meaning and significance of historical events in nations and worlds context. I think, that suitable example given by parents, cherished traditions, encouraged respect to other human beings and high self esteem would help to raise democracy and cooperation in children.
ReplyDeleteIt is not enough to set the rules for children, as they tend not to follow the orders and need real-life examples. Therefore, in order for the children to adopt their parents’ cultural values, it is necessary to make the parents believe themselves in what I would like them to transfer. Thus the parents’ attitude regarding the cultural values is of great importance. Here, discussion and reflection suit the most. My main objective for the educational parents’ group is enablement. By this, I mean that the parents should themselves arrive to the proper conclusions through discussions and they would develop a plan for transferring democratic and cooperative values. They would have to decide how they could correct and adjust their behavior and communication so that children could benefit the most.
ReplyDeleteDemocracy and cooperation should become a natural basis for everyday communication between parents and their children. Children learn cooperation from everyday activities, by receiving lots of attention from their parents, making their household tasks which are appropriate to their age, playing together and participating in other activities that do not encourage violence. People close to children should put efforts to ensure that the children would not be afraid of their environment, and ensure that their lives are as safe as possible.
Another topic I would discuss with parents is empathy. Sociodramas that help parents to better feel the life of the other person would also be useful. At the same time, this would present them a good possibility to understand their children better.
It is very important for parents to also realize the benefits of democracy. I would suggest them to start by engaging the children in holiday and free time planning. The children should be able to choose the after-school activities based on their own likes and preferences. Here, I would mention also self-awareness, respect and tolerance to others. Parents could observe their children through the prism of love and patience, which would be the basis for democracy and cooperation as values.
Henna, you cogitated about cultures values so deeply. It touched me, my soul...
ReplyDeleteUndoubtedly, what you read about Jews are so sensitive. These people were not worthy genocide... I also recommend you to see a movie „Schindler‘s list" about German Jews.
Faimily is the first school for children. Normally parents are the main teachers and that‘s why they are important. Parents influence their children‘s behaviour, values, attitude to many things. It is no secret that they play important role in developing child‘s personality.
ReplyDeleteWe hope that children will learn right things and will behave respectfully with each other. However, first of all, they have to see the right example. Parents must show it, but often they don‘t know a lot of things.
So the first step is to work with parents, if I want to change something in children. Parents tell about their values, what is important for them. I would seek to represent values: democracy and cooperation, I would speak, of couse, about aggression too. During the first meeting with parents I would introduce what are the differences between children‘s games. The aim is to show that it is better to play games which teach children cooperation. Parents learn such games and I invite next time to come with their children and then to demonstrate how they succeeded to teach their children.
I think, parent lack of information. So, I would introduce them the influence of televizion and computer games too. My aim would be to show what games are represented in internet. I think, parents ofen do not know anything about them. Problem is that computer games are full of violance. Children learn wrong behaviour and form wrong understanding.
Parents encourage their child to be the best among other people. In my opinion is not good. It often happens at school: parents want their child to get only high marks. When a child participates in competition of sports he/she has to be the first. I would seek to help parents understand that a very important thing is to encourage their child to work together and seek the best results too.
About Gitana´s answer and to Rasa
ReplyDeleteGitana, we had the same idea about organizeing a conversation. I especially liked the idea put parents thinkinking the present from children´s perspective. And you brought up something very important to social work: to understand the past. Asking about parents own childhood could bring up new perspective for parents too.
And thanks for Rasa your practical advices for parents.
Reading all answers I saw that all of us agree that for kids the most important are their parents. I liked Michael and Carolin sayings that children are all the time influenced by other surroundings and it depends where they are at particular time: at school, kindergarden, day centers, with parents, etc. I think that we as a social workers also could be between all these institutions and in some meetings we could ask to come specialist from all these institutions in order to the situation could be looked from different perspectives which are connected with children.
ReplyDeleteSonata, you make very good points and have great interventions on how to explain and better transmit cultural values to children. It sounds like you are coming from a self psychology model where the child internalizes the relationship from the parent(s) or the therapist if the parents are not able to provide a positive alliance with the child. It is amazing to think how lucky some people are to be born into a family that provides their child with love, twinship, mirroring, and a holding arena that the child can grow and mature in.
ReplyDeleteSome of the ways cultural values are transmitted to children are through example, observation, and the media. Parents have a significant impact on a child’s values and beliefs. At a very young age children have cultural cognition and intentionality. Tomasello et al. state children have the ability to share goals (2004).
ReplyDeleteFacilitating a parent educational group is a way a social worker can “promote social change, problem-solving in human relationships, and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well being” (Hare. p. 409).
In order to minimize aggression in children as a social worker I would help the parents to examine their personal style of communication with each other, and with the child. Through looking at style of communication and cultural values such as hatred and aggression, as well as, democracy and cooperation within a group setting you can get a sense of a parent’s own views and beliefs which can then be transmitted to the child. In addition to what the parents are doing it is also important to look at what the parents are not doing. A way to promote parent’s thinking and growth would be through brain storming within the group setting. This allows for parent’s to talk about and examine their beliefs, values, and the ways they communicate their beliefs and values to their children and to explore other possibilities.
Within the group setting I would also present for discussion the extensive literature that has been written on the effects that competition has in the western society and talk about other options such as, promoting cooperation and community as opposed to competition and individualism in children. Bonta, discusses research that reveals cooperation as a dominant element of peaceful societies (1997).
Melissa,
ReplyDeleteI agree that children learn cultural values at a very young age and that environment plays a key role in the learning process. I think eliminating or limiting competitive play can reduce aggression if it’s in combination with a peaceful and cooperative environment. I think talking to the parents about their own values and belief is essential in a parent education group. I like how you weave in what parent’s actions are teaching the child as well as ways to promote cooperation, and peace.