Work File Review: Exploring Pathways to Parenting

Site 1
Using the article Average cost of raising a child hits $245,000 determine answers to the
following.

1. Based on your reading the cost of raising a child for a

middle income family is ______245,000____________.
lower income family is _________145,500__________.
higher income family is __________455,000__________.
2. What cost is left out of the average amount?
____________ cost of college__________

3. Which is the third largest cost according to the USDA?

____________food
Refer to the How much will it cost to raise your kid? graphic to answer the following

4. Rank the categories of expenses from the most costly to least costly.
1.house&transportation(107,970)
2.child care&education(44,400)
3.food(39,060)
4.clothing&misc(33,780)
5.healthcare(20,00)

Site 2

5. Read the suggestions for a healthy lifestyle leading to a baby’s solid growth and development
and explain why these suggestions are important for a prospective parent to follow.
The suggestion of a healthy lifestyle leading to a baby’s solid growth and development includes
keeping the child away from drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. It also includes eating healthy and
taking care of your self. These suggestions are important because everything you do affects the
baby either negatively or positively and helps make sure that the baby is healthy and safe
Site 3

6. Defend this statement—“Discipline and punishment are not the same thing.”

Word Bank for questions 7 – 12

Self-worth self-control sarcasm more respect positive bad more

7. Discipline guides a child to respect.

8. Negative methods of behavior correction include verbal abuse, humiliation and _sarcasm.

9. Discipline is respectful, accepting and comforting, which enhances self control.

10. The more one knows about stages of child development the more one will be able to
positively guide children.

11. “More parents have difficulty with disciplining children.” This belief is often felt by parents.

12. When treated with _respect children learn positive _behaviors.

13. List the six biggest roadblocks to effective discipline. Choose one and discuss why it would
be considered to be a roadblock. The six biggest roadblocks are; 1.confusing discipline with
punishment, 2.believing that what works at one time will work all the time, 3.thinking that when
you have difficulty disciplining a child you are a bad parent, 4.believing your children”should”
behave a certain way at a certain time, 5.believing you must “win” every battle, and 6.parents
disagreeing in front of a child about discipline.
Believing you must “win” every battle can be a road block because not everyone can be
right all the time even parents so if you teach your children that no matter what you are right they
start to learn that they always have to be right which can effect them later on in life.

14. List the six methods of effective discipline. Choose one and explain why it would be an
effective method of discipline. Six methods of effective discipline are; 1. Set reasonable limits, 2.
Use consequences, 3.take corrective action as soon as possible, 4.stay calm, 5. Provide a short
time to “cool down”, 6.set an example.
Providing time to cool down help when it come to discipline because it help there not be
a big fight when a child get into trouble especially with teens.

Site 4
List two methods of prevention for these common accidents.
DANGER PREVENTION Method 1
Falls Keep clutter away from all
stairs
Motor Vehicle Accidents Have you baby car seat
inspected prior to use
Drowning
Poisoning Keep cleaning supplies in a
child proof cabinet
Burns & Fires Never leave candles
burning in a empty space
Choking Avoid hard candies, nuts
and seeds
Firearms Avoid storing guns in the
home.
PREVENTION Method 2
Make sure baby are never
left alone on a raised
surface were they could
roll off
All children under the age
of 13 should sit in the back
Use child-proof caps and
keep all medicines out of
children’s reach
Keep loose clothing and
hair away from stove
Avoid toys smaller than the
child’s hands and keep
small objects out of
children’s reach such as
paper clips, pins, and coins.
If guns are in the home,
keep shells/ammunition
in a separate area and
NEVER have a loaded
gun in the home.

The firearm information will not be found on the Mayo Clinic web site. The above is a crucial
safety method regarding firearms and keeping children safe. (If guns are in the home, keep
shells/ammunition in a separate area and NEVER have a loaded gun in the home.)

Site 5
List three ways to help children deal with bullying.
1. Keep the lines of communication open 2. Model how to treat others 3.encourage kids to do
what they love

Site 6

Identify the technique in dealing with teens and pre-teens. Pretend you are the parent in these
situations.

Excessive phone use/bills are brought up during this time.

Bobby, the oldest son, has kept his room clean for two weeks without being told to pick up. You
make a point of pointing this specific behavior out at the regularly scheduled family meeting and
offer to order his favorite pizza for dinner.

After watching a movie about drug and alcohol abuse, you and your spouse express your
concerns regarding this problem to your 16-year-old son.

You have asked your daughter to unload the dishwasher and take out the trash before you get
home from work as guests are coming for dinner. She does not do this and is sassy with you
regarding being asked to do this chore. You are angry, but tell her you will discuss and discipline
her once your guests have left.

Site 7

What are five routines you can follow to create a “happier morning” with children?
1. Make sure you get five minutes of relaxed snuggle time with each child as they wake up
2.use connection routines to make transitions easier
3.realize that kids need your help to move through the routine
4.keep the routine as simple as possible
5.play it out