How does a family of origin impact children?
Families are beautiful things as they are the first source of social contact. At a tender age, families teach us how to live, interact, and how to make our way in the world. As kids grow up, the first people they learn to trust are those around them who are mostly members of their family. Family origin defines children’s thought pattern and behaviours. The impacts of the family make people who they are; therefore, positive effects make complete responsible individuals. In this discussion, family origin refers to a unit in which one is raised and not biological family. It should be noted that biological family may have little impact on your development if they did not raise you. The commentary specifically refers to a much broader and a greater community that care for an individual as he or she grew up. For example, for a child raised up by grandparents, family friends, siblings, cousins or aunt and not his or her biological parents refers to the former as his or her family origin. Due to significant impacts family origin has on the development of a child, it is essential to address various ways through family origin influences from a broader perspective. This paper will discuss how the family of origin impact children through forms of family, the wealth of family, and parents’ education level.
There are different forms of the family such as nuclear, joint, polygamous, patriarchal and divorced, among others. Each family form has a notable influence on children development. Of interest in this discussion is divorced form of family. I choose to discuss divorced family due to its increasing trend effects on children worldwide. Statistics show that the global divorce rate in four decades between 1970 and 2008 has doubled from 2.6 divorces in 1000 married couples to 5.5. The statistics and the rates can be narrowed down to China and the United States. Ma, Li, Jani & Ester (6) noted that China maintains low divorce rate at 14% in 2010 representing 1.96 million while according to National Survey of Family Growth, United States has a divorce probability range of 40% to 50% in 2012. Similar statistics from CDC shows reveals that the divorce rate in the United States is 3.2 per 1000 people. Consequently, the effects of divorced family challenges on children are rising at an alarming rate. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
When parents separate all children to lose out as they do not access their parents when they need them most, this impacts on them profoundly and hinders all dimensions of their development. Absence of parents in children’s lives makes them feel insecure, which thwarts their exploration, development, learning and growth. Children who grow up in divorced families do not learn the right concepts of family and parenthood. For example, when a girl child grows up without her father, she will always have a negative attitude towards men and find it hard in her future life to connect with men. They learn to be independent and accepting men in her life may be difficult. Further, children of divorced parents mostly suffer academically due to emotional struggles. Both parents play a vital role in children’s academic performance. Parental support and guidance in academic work is the key to learning and development. Often, children of divorced parents may end up in trouble with the law in their future life due to lack of parental guidance in values and morals. In a nutshell, a divorced form of family has adverse effects on children as they are the victims of parental absence.
Normal or nuclear form of family that comprises of two parents and children holds high esteem in society for being ideal for raising children. Kids raised in normal families receive strength and stability from both parents to help them thrive in their life. The presence of two parent’s structure with a stable financial base provides them with more opportunity. Based on United States Census data collected in 2010, approximately 70% of children live with both parents. Further, such kids have double progress in all dimensions of life like academics, social life, religion, moral value, and beliefs as compared to those children brought up in divorced families. Nuclear family children are more close to their parents; therefore, they can have a more frank, free and honest discussion about their problems. Free and open sharing of issues, ideas and views with parents helps for better development of the children personality. Normal families help children develop their personality. Through parental guidance, the kids are taught how to behave, and true values are installed by parents. As they see their parents solve issues in the family, children learn the best way to handle and solve family problems. Basing from my life experience example, being brought up with both parents is an amazing gift. My parents were there for me in every situation, and I learned the act of caring for others from my parents. I can testify that growing up with all parents helps to develop our mental, physical, psychological and emotional concepts in the right way.
Beyond family composition, parental wealth and financial stability may impact children’s academic, aspirations, expectations and relationships. Undoubtedly, family income determines the resources available to children. According to (Willingham, 34) low family income has subtle consequences such as the greater risk of low weight that may result in cognitive impairment. Willingham further argues that children from families with low financial base experience difficulties in their academic progress due to lack of books, access to tutors, computers and other academic sources. I agree with Willingham arguments based on my current observation. Today, high-class families can afford more expensive private schools that have all the necessary resources for learning. Also, families with wealth can invest in their children hobbies and talents. This gives the children the opportunity to explore their talents and their potentials. On the other hand, low-income families have little resources to invest in their children education. As noted by Willingham, children raised in low-income families lack many opportunities to explore and build on their talents. They have limited resources; therefore, their expectations are not met. This discourages the children who may lose hope of progressing in life.
Ani-Asamoah (n.d) notes that the education gap between rich and low-income families continues to grow despite efforts to bridge the gap. Statistics show that 30% of kids raised in low-income families do not complete high school. In connection, those who do not have a high school diploma by age 20 are more likely to be poor at the age of 30. Finally, it is noted that kids brought up impoverished are less likely to finish their schooling. From the statistics, I envision that children brought up in low-income families have a high percentage of being poor. I concur with the above statistical findings based on my life experience. As a kid, we grew up in a small village where most of the families were low-income earners. In the vicinity, there were no tangible wealth and resources that could be used to take children to private schools with well-organized academic programs. After a few years, when I went back to visit my friends from that village, I noticed that most of them did not complete their high school education. Undoubtedly, family income determines the resources available to children. Parental wealth and financial stability may impact children’s academic, aspirations, expectations and relationships.
Parents with high-quality education level impart better academic performance desire in their children. Well-educated parents will seek high-quality education opportunities for their children that results in high academic performance. Further, parents with high education level have good parenting behaviours, and they cultivate proper learning habits that positively affects their academic performance. Family composition in terms of parent’s education level has significant impacts on children’s educational and behavioural development. Parents who are educated understand the entire process of education. They know the challenges that children face in schools, the resources needed for better performance and progress evaluation process. Understanding children’s performance and assessment would be very difficult for uneducated parents than those who underwent the same process. Leaners who have educated parents can get help in solving homework problems as they confirm the right answers. My parents are well-conversant with the course I am undertaking. They know what I need and what I do not need. I get a lot of support from them because they understand what I am studying. At some point, they even help me solve challenging problems in the course readings. All in all, parental education reflects on children’s academic developments.
In conclusion, family origin impact children through forms of family, the wealth of family, and parents’ education level. Family origin defines how a child is raised and shapes them into who they will be in future. Parents should be available for their children to guide them and provide them with financial, emotional, psychological and physical support when they need it. Parental education is also vital as it reflects on the kid’s academic and behaviour. Before you think of becoming a parent, educate yourself because your kids will need your academic support.
Works Cited
Ani-Asamoah Marbuah, Dina. “Influence of Parental Income and Educational Attainment on Children’s Years of Schooling: Case of Ghana.” (2016).
Ma, Li, Jani Turunen, and Ester Rizzi. “Divorce Chinese Style.” Journal of Marriage and Family 80.5 (2018): 1287-1297.
Willingham, Daniel T. “Ask the Cognitive Scientist: Why Does Family Wealth Affect Learning?.” American Educator 36.1 (2012): 33-39.