Social Perceptions of Family and Family Laws, Child Development Stages, and Social Constructivism - Literature review Example

Name: Tutor: Title: Childhood Construction Course: Date: Childhood Construction Introduction The way we understand or construct childhood has a major impact on the way we intervene within the child protection system to protect children. According to Hutton (2000), having concerns about a child when their health and growth are not in a good state is becoming a profession for people dealing with families and children. However, it is not only about their health but general needs. Aspects of child protection approach families, kinship and perception of different ideas is changing over time. In order to contribute effectively to the system of child protection, a clear understanding of childhood construction is mandatory. This can be achieved through having a clear perception of the family, understanding the child’s development stages, understanding the aspect of social constructivism, the changing patterns of families and changes in the child protection approaches. Social perceptions of family and family laws In the previous generation, nuclear families idea was a social unit like a ranch or a patrician court. The small families had connections with each other and the whole community where there was free movement of children to different homes. According to Rozga (2001), the society perceives the word family to mean a group comprising of mother father and their children who are intimate. Other forms of families like a couple with no children, or siblings living together or a single parent and a child or children are less of families, but the modern society and governments find ways to adjust the definition of family to suit the up coming realities of families. Protection of such children differs to some extent. The traditional society considers a father to be the head of the family which is a role they play, to protect and provide for the family and is the one who make crucial family decisions. A mother is obligated with role of care and effective upbringing. This translates to a negative attitude towards protection of a girl-child in the traditional days. Wolfe (1999, p. 88) notes that family settings and practices have a major influence to a child’s growth and behaviors. These days fathers are having an equal bonding with their children, mothers are contributing to their families’ income too and the aspect of opposites is getting distinct. According to Melita (2006), family laws in relation to parental responsibility are changing in favor of the children. The changes were as a result of the changing forms of families and for easy understanding of the responsibilities in legislation. This understanding together with understanding the children gives parents an upper hand to intervene in the child protection system and protect their children. Child development stages As children develop, there is need to understand the stages of development and there needs at every stage to be able to protect them from bad influence. In the early years, a child needs to realize physical objectives, connection with the people taking care of them and distinguishing from the surrounding by developing identity. Caregivers need to be careful with the language and people around a child at this stage. The middle childhood is a child’s development stage where the child’s academics and social identity and presentation become most important aspects of their lives. The child makes adjustment in their school setting and behavior, gaining self acceptance with other children of their age and learn the social regulations and laws. The child is not prone to much influence at this stage. The adolescence recognizes social identity and the child tries to develop more of family relationships and with the society too. This stage places a child at a vulnerable state to risk from the environment, therefore need more protection (Fischhoff. et.al. 2001, p. 51). The Human Rights plays a major role in giving the children a voice. By partnering with the United Nations Children’s Fund, Human Rights emphasizes on giving the children a voice. According to Rozga (2001), the approach identifies and protects the rights of children to have a voice in the society, and their political and cultural participation. They also participate in the gender protection of children against abuses, education on HIV AIDs and health issues. Social constructivism Through the interaction of children with the society children develop their own understanding and knowledge. In case one seams to be a bit different from the others, there can be isolation and the child’s development will be affected. The history of a child affects the way in which they grow and how they interact with others. Connolly (2006, p. 15) says that people’s cultural perspectives of others affect the interactions between groups of people. The child might also live in fear. The current social networks and news on televisions about crimes child might think that fighting makes people superior than others and may also practice the same. A girl child growing up and seeing her mother or women taking care of homes and children also wants to have children of her own even as they play. A boy child understands that the role of men is to protect families and go to work to provide income to the family. Children from different cultures behave in different ways as they grow up embracing different aspects of life. By understanding this language that many people tend to forget, caretakers for children are in a position to monitor what the children are exposed to and thus a good up bringing (New, & Cochran, 2007, p.746) Changing patterns in families and kinship Comparing the ancient marriages and family settings, there are changes on how people perceive marriages and equally, ways of partnerships parenthood and domesticity. People no longer take marriage seriously and divorce is almost becoming an obvious thing where people fail to keep the marriage promises. This is also affecting the traditional means of parenting as parent hood is not necessarily between married couples but also out of wedlock. Activities for controlling birth and termination of pregnancy are also taking tall as a result of this and the female seam to be in charge of their productiveness and increasing s freedom. With the emerging technology in reproduction, the tradition parent hood suffers a great deal as the initial biological connection and care between parents and children are no longer a matter of concern. Smart et al. (2000) note that, the liberty to choose who parents a child and the time they choose to start parenting now lies in the hands of human beings in the name of technology. There is an increasing number of re-marriage cases and step families settings which is becoming obvious and many parents raising children as single parents. Some families are made of parents of the same gender, ignoring the male –female partnerships of the ancient days. The ancient belief of family living together in one homestead no longer exists and families are living in different areas connect by mean of the advancing technologies. Changing roles based on gender allows gender equity in child protection. According to Neale (2000), women are currently securing chances in the employment sector and are becoming independent enough to sustain their children economically and care for them in terms of educating them and maintenance. Men are not only taking care of homesteads and embracing the parenting responsibilities, but also securing employment outside. Men are also helping out in household chores at free will. There is also an increasing number of people who are living a single life and decide not to get into any kind of domestic relations but rather have family and friends only. The changing patterns allow development of broader child protection strategies like Protection for illegitimate children. Changing approaches to child protection Taking children from the care of parents is among the approaches that governments use to protect children’s morals and rights. Child protection policies are increasing over the years in the state of Australia. Disciplinary child protection approaches are changing to a more family based approach. According to Douglas.et.al (2009) research, the family results approach requires that parents take part in the system of child protection, and for this to happen, they need information regarding what the process involves. This child protection process of new focus involves clear information to parents with simple language of understanding to acquire general results for the protection. Access to an advocate is also a consideration to avoid cases of intimidation of mothers. Lovelock (2005) states that, disciplinary approach limits communication between children and parents and affects their relationship; this makes it a negative approach. This leads to mistrust on the parents’ side for the child care workers. Family approach considers the fact that parents understand their children more and if they get information on how to protect their children morals and rights places them in a better position for the job. Disciplinary approach by the system departments at times aims at families facing poverty and tends to assume that they are not taking good care of children. This is unfair and such families face the risk of their children being taken away unjustly. Family-based child protection approach focuses on assisting the family in coming up with better ways for taking care of their children by building them economically, starting from what the parents already have, their strengths. In the case of domestic violence, the child protection departments most of the time blame the mothers who are not violent, if the violence affects the children. Disciplinary approach requires that the authorities take the child away. According to Stark & Buzawa (2009), women also need protection against domestic violence. The family based approach analyses the nature of the domestic violence and device ways of protecting the child and settling the family too. Conclusion From the social standing on families and the laws governing them, parents are able to share responsibilities for effective child growth. The development stages of a child enable caregivers to know the needs of a child at the different development stages and meet the needs according to their capabilities. This also enables the parent to be aware of the child’s rights as per the general law and the role of human rights towards children protection. Social constructivism enables parents to know what to restrict their children from and what they expose the children to as they build up their own understanding of events, both historic and the culture surrounding them. The general knowledge enables a caregiver to provide and protect for the child adequately to avoid their removal from the family. References Wolfe, D. A. (1999). Child abuse: implications for child development and psychopathology. Thousand Oaks, Calif. Sage Publ. Fischhoff, B., Nightingale, E. O., & Iannotta, J. G. (2001). Adolescent risk and vulnerability: concepts and measurement. Washington, D.C., National Academy Press Connolly, M., Crichton-hill, Y., & Ward, T. (2006). Culture and child protection : reflexive responses. London, Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Holman B, Parker R and Utting W. (1999). Reshaping Child Care Practice. NISW, London. Rozga, D. (2001). Applying a Human rights based approach to programming: Experiences of UNICEF. Bottom of Form Dyer, D.E. (1999). Journal of Marriage and Family: Upward social mobility and nuclear family intergration as perceived by the wife in Swedish Urban families < http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/350096?uid=3738336&uid=2&uid=4&sid=21101288355571 > Hutton, J. (2000). Assessing Children in Need and their Families. Published by The Stationery Office Ltd. Melita, B. (2006). Family law changes in children’s cases. Retrieved on October 21, 2012 from < http://www.psychology.org.au/publications/inpsych/law/> Top of Form New, R. S., & Cochran, M. (2007). Early childhood education an international encyclopedia. Westport, Conn, Praeger Publishers. Smart, C, Neale, B and Wade, A (2000). Future Families: Children and their Divorced Parents, Cambridge: Polity. Neale, B. (2000). Theorising Family, Kinship and Social Change. Workshop paper: Statistics and Theories for Understanding Social Change Douglas,H, Walsh,T, Blore, K. (2009). Mothers and the child protection system.< http://www.law.uq.edu.au/documents/research/projects/child-protection-report.pdf > Lovelock, R. (2004). Reflecting on social work - discipline and profession. Aldershot, Ashgate. Meggitt, C. (2007). Child development: an illustrated guide ; [birth to 16 years]. Oxford, Heinemann Educational Publishers. . Schaefer, C. E., & Digeronimo, T. F. (2000). Ages and stages: a parent's guide to normal childhood development. New York, John Wiley Stark, E., & Buzawa, E. S. (2009). Violence against women in families and relationships. Santa Barbara, Calif, Praeger/ABC-CLIO. Read More