Unit Six: Parenting Education & Global Issues Unit Six Introduction Parents play an important role in the lives of their children. Being a parent is one of the hardest jobs in the world. Despite the challenges, parenting can be one of lifes most rewarding experiences, but the knowledge and skills needed for good parenting do not necessarily come naturally. Most parents do not instinctively know how to be a parent or what to do when it comes to discipline, nurturing or any other issues that arise through the child-rearing years. Social changes have made it more difficult to rely on parenting techniques from the past. Fortunately, parents today have the benefit of unprecedented access to parenting resources and supports. Parenting education can help build the skill of parents. There is a need for awareness and understanding of global issues of concern to families including migration, changes in family structure, aging HIV/AIDS and armed conflicts and turbulence. Family has different meanings and definitions in each culture, but using theory helps us to understand families and their interactions with multifaceted environments. Since family life educators often partake in international educational experiences, it is important to be cognizant of various cultures and use educational methods that will be sensitive and effective with others. While the teaching methods may vary, the global concerns that affect families, affect us all no matter where we live. Unit Six Outcomes Upon completion of this unit you should be able to: 1. Outline design, implementation and evaluation of a parenting education program. 2. Outline specific strategies used in program design and implementation in various cultural groups. 3. Discuss the design, implementation and evaluation of a family life education program in consideration of cultural issues and societal issues. 4. Outline content, strengths & weaknesses of an online FLE program. 5. Review and rate the program for its usefulness. 6. Develop a Welcome Session and Goodbye Session for your program project. 6.1 Text/Media Textbook: Family Life Education: Working with Families across the Life Span Media Link: Parenting 24/7 https://parenting247.org/ Media Link: Text4Baby https://www.text4baby.org/index.html Instructions 1. Read and reflect on Chapters 11 & 12 of Family Life Education: Working with Families across the Life Span 2. Review the media links: Parenting 24/7 and Text4Baby. Assignments 6.2 Threaded Discussion: Parenting & International Perspectives Instructions 1. Review chapters 11 and 12 in Family Life Education: Working with Families across the Life Span. 2. For your initial post, please answer the following questions: o Identify an emerging issue of concern for parents (e.g., bullying, substance abuse, sexting). What are some ways in which parents can best respond? How might culture play a role in their response? o Experience a cultural environment unlike the one you are familiar with. This could be a cultural celebration, a restaurant specializing in cultural foods, or a religious setting. Then answer the following questions: ? How does it feel to be different in this setting? ? What feelings might you have if you were to become a resident with this culture? ? What did you learn about this culture? ? How can you apply what you learned to designing, implementing and evaluating a family life education program?
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