The Family Environment

Subject Area

This activity has been designed to cover Parenting issues in the NFB 3A1, NFB 3G1 curricula. More specifically, it forms part of Unit 1 “Preparation for Parenting” (core unit) as described in the Family Studies Curriculum Guideline 1987 page 62. This material has been designed to explore objective “G” on page 63.

Learning Outcomes

Teaching, learning and evaluation will focus on the student’s ability to:

• Identify factors which negatively impact on the family environment with regard to child rearing;
  
• Focus on a specific factor and describe the impact the event or circumstance would have on the family environment;
  
• Explore the impact of these factors on children and apply the concepts they have learned in a presentation, poster, or essay.

Classroom Development

1. Direct students to form small groups, and have them consider and list all the factors they consider to be detrimental to child rearing in the family environment on the worksheet provided with this guide.
   
2. Have the groups share their lists with the class.
   
3. Next, have students complete the handout “Children Learn What They Live” to assess the impact of situations detrimental to human development in the family environment.

Timing

Allow one 70 min period for students to complete this activity. Additional time would be required for extension activities.

Resources

A collection of materials from the print media relating to the “Family” will help students to complete this activity.

Extension Activities

Students might clip newspaper articles/ headlines to create a poster or bulletin board to summarize their findings.
Students working independently or in small groups might select one of the factors—such as divorce—research the impact of this event on the family environment, and create an essay, presentation or poster.

The Family Environment: Answer Sheet

Events or circumstances that might negatively impact on the family environment.

Example: Divorce

1. abuse
   
2. neglect
   
3. parental disharmony
   
4. incompatible traditions
   
5. custody battle
   
6. unrealistic expectations of child
   
7. kidnapping of children by parents
   
8. young adolescent childbearing
   
9. excessive discipline
   
10. unresolved power issues
    
11. unemployment
    
12. debilitating illness/ injury
    
13. failure to meet early childhood dependency needs
    
14. poverty
    
15. family violence

Children Learn What They Live: Answer Sheet

1. If children live with criticism, They learn to condemn.
   
2. If children live with hostility, They learn to fight.
   
3. If children live with fear, They learn to be apprehensive.
   
4. If children live with pity, They learn to feel sorry for themselves.
   
5. If children live with ridicule, They learn to be shy.
   
6. If children live with jealousy, They learn what envy is.
   
7. If children live with encouragement, They learn to be confident.
   
8. If children live with tolerance, They learn to be patient.
   
9. If children live with praise, They learn to be appreciative.
   
10. If children live with acceptance, They learn to like themselves.
    
11. If children live with affection, They learn to love.
    
12. If children live with sharing, They learn about generosity.
    
13. If children live with honesty, They learn what is truth is.
14. If children live with fairness, They learn what is justice is.
    If children live with both acceptance and friendliness,
    They learn that the world is a good place in which to live.

The Family Environment

Statement: Each family creates its own environment for child rearing.
In the space below list the events or circumstances that might have a negative impact on this family environment.
Example: Divorce

Children Learn What They Live

Use the words in the table below to fill in the blanks.

1. If children live with criticism, They learn to ________________________.
   
2. If children live with hostility, They learn to ________________________.
   
3. If children live with fear, They learn to be ______________________.
   
4. If children live with pity, They learn to feel ____________________.
   
5. If children live with ridicule, They learn to be ______________________.
   
6. If children live with jealousy, They learn what _____________________is.
   
7. If children live with encouragement, They learn to be ______________________.
   
8. If children live with tolerance, They learn to be ______________________.
   
9. If children live with praise, They learn to be ______________________.
   
10. If children live with acceptance, They learn to ________________________.
    
11. If children live with affection, They learn to ________________________.
    
12. If children live with sharing, They learn about ______________________.
    
13. If children learn with honesty, They learn what ____________________is.
    
14. If children live with fairness, They learn what ____________________is.
    If children live with both acceptance and friendliness,
    They learn that the world is a nice place in which to live.