On Child Development

  Our​ ​parents​ ​effect​ ​the​ ​other​ ​half​ ​of​ ​who​ ​we​ ​are.​ ​​ ​Our​ ​parents’​ ​“style”​ ​of​ ​parenting​ ​can​ ​leave  us​ ​well,​ ​or​ ​mal,​ ​adjusted.​ ​Authoritarian​ ​parents​ ​have​ ​a​ ​high​ ​demandingness​ ​level,​ ​and​ ​a​ ​low  responsiveness​ ​level.​ ​​ ​Permissive​ ​parents​ ​have​ ​a​ ​low​ ​demandingness​ ​level​ ​and​ ​a​ ​high  responsiveness​ ​level.​ ​​ ​Neglecting/Rejecting​ ​parents​ ​have​ ​a​ ​low​ ​demandingness​ ​level​ ​and​ ​a  low​ ​responsiveness​ ​level.​ ​​ ​Authoritative​ ​parents​ ​have​ ​a​ ​high​ ​demandingness​ ​level​ ​and​ ​a  high​ ​responsiveness​ ​level.     One​ ​parent​ ​families​ ​has​ ​increased​ ​steadily​ ​since​ ​1970.     You​ ​may​ ​be​ ​hired​ ​to​ ​coach​ ​a​ ​single​ ​parent.​ ​​ ​Here​ ​are​ ​some​ ​tips​ ​on​ ​successful​ ​single​ ​parent  families.​ ​​ ​1.​ ​​ ​Acceptance​ ​of​ ​responsibilities​ ​and​ ​challenges.​ ​​ ​These​ ​parents​ ​showed​ ​a  positive​ ​attitude​ ​toward​ ​parenting​ ​and​ ​life​ ​in​ ​general.​ ​​ ​Problems​ ​were​ ​neither​ ​minimized​ ​or  maximized.​ ​​ ​2.​ ​​ ​Parenting​ ​as​ ​a​ ​priority.​ ​​ ​Parents​ ​wanted​ ​to​ ​be​ ​the​ ​best​ ​possible​ ​single  parent​ ​and​ ​were​ ​willing​ ​to​ ​sacrifice​ ​time,​ ​money,​ ​and​ ​energy.​ ​​ ​Many​ ​thought​ ​there​ ​would  be​ ​time​ ​for​ ​themselves​ ​later​ ​on.​ ​​ ​3.​ ​​ ​Use​ ​of​ ​consistent,​ ​nonpunitive​ ​discipline.​ ​​ ​The  household​ ​had​ ​a​ ​structure​ ​and​ ​logical​ ​consequences​ ​followed​ ​any​ ​misbehavior.​ ​​ ​4.​ ​​ ​Open  communication​ ​encouraged.​ ​​ ​Trusting​ ​relationships​ ​were​ ​formed​ ​through​ ​an​ ​honest  expression​ ​of​ ​feelings.​ ​​ ​5.​ ​​ ​Individuality​ ​fostered​ ​within​ ​a​ ​supportive​ ​family.​ ​​ ​Children’s  individuality​ ​and​ ​independence​ ​was​ ​supported.​ ​​ ​Each​ ​person​ ​was​ ​seen​ ​as​ ​having​ ​particular  skills​ ​and​ ​interests.​ ​​ ​6.​ ​​ ​Recognition​ ​of​ ​needs​ ​for​ ​self-nurturance.​ ​​ ​Despite​ ​the​ ​fact​ ​that​ ​the  parent​ ​lacked​ ​time​ ​for​ ​herself,​ ​an​ ​attempt​ ​to​ ​continue​ ​to​ ​grow​ ​was​ ​made​ ​through​ ​physical,  emotional,​ ​mental​ ​and​ ​spiritual​ ​aspects.​ ​​ ​7.​ ​​ ​Respect​ ​for​ ​rituals​ ​and​ ​traditions.​ ​​ ​The​ ​family  had​ ​specific​ ​routines,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​at​ ​bedtimes,​ ​and​ ​holiday​ ​celebrations​ ​were​ ​common.  


Most​ ​married​ ​people​ ​with​ ​young​ ​children​ ​are​ ​in​ ​the​ ​labor​ ​force.​ ​​ ​In​ ​1960,​ ​only​ ​20%​ ​of  homes​ ​had​ ​two​ ​working​ ​parents.​ ​​ ​Now,​ ​65%​ ​of​ ​homes​ ​do.     Most​ ​people​ ​must​ ​use​ ​child​ ​care.​ ​​ ​35.7%​ ​of​ ​children​ ​are​ ​cared​ ​for​ ​in​ ​their​ ​own​ ​homes​ ​by​ ​a  relative,​ ​or​ ​babysitter.​ ​​ ​31%​ ​of​ ​children​ ​stay​ ​at​ ​the​ ​home​ ​of​ ​another​ ​relative,​ ​or​ ​a​ ​family​ ​day  care​ ​home.​ ​​ ​23%​ ​stay​ ​at​ ​a​ ​group​ ​daycare​ ​center.​ ​​ ​8.7%​ ​are​ ​cared​ ​for​ ​by​ ​their​ ​mother​ ​while  she​ ​works.​ ​​ ​And​ ​1.6%​ ​are​ ​cared​ ​for​ ​by​ ​other​ ​people.    Our​ ​prenatal​ ​development​ ​can​ ​effect​ ​how​ ​we​ ​turn​ ​out​ ​physically.​ ​​ ​You​ ​may​ ​be​ ​a​ ​prenatal​ ​or  pregnancy​ ​coach.​ ​​ ​Here​ ​is​ ​a​ ​basic​ ​look​ ​at​ ​prenatal​ ​development.​ ​​ ​At​ ​1​ ​month​ ​the​ ​baby​ ​is  .25-.5​ ​inches​ ​long.​ ​​ ​Head​ ​is​ ​⅓​ ​of​ ​the​ ​embryo.​ ​​ ​Brain​ ​has​ ​lobes,​ ​and​ ​rudimentary​ ​nervous  system​ ​appears​ ​as​ ​hollow​ ​tube.​ ​​ ​Heart​ ​begins​ ​to​ ​beat.​ ​​ ​Blood​ ​vessels​ ​form,​ ​and​ ​blood​ ​flows  through​ ​them.​ ​​ ​Simple​ ​kidneys,​ ​liver,​ ​and​ ​digestive​ ​tract​ ​appear.​ ​​ ​Rudiments​ ​of​ ​eyes,​ ​ears  and​ ​nose​ ​appear.​ ​​ ​Small​ ​tail.​ ​​ ​At​ ​2​ ​months,​ ​it’s​ ​1.5​ ​inches​ ​long.​ ​​ ​⅓​ ​of​ ​an​ ​ounce​ ​in​ ​weight.​ ​​ ​At​ ​3  months​ ​it’s​ ​3​ ​inches​ ​long.​ ​​ ​1​ ​oz.​ ​in​ ​weight.​ ​​ ​Begins​ ​to​ ​be​ ​active.​ ​​ ​Number​ ​of​ ​nerve-muscle  connections​ ​almost​ ​triples.​ ​​ ​Sucking​ ​reflex​ ​begins​ ​to​ ​appear.​ ​​ ​Can​ ​swallow​ ​and​ ​may​ ​even  breathe.​ ​​ ​Eyelids​ ​fused​ ​shut​ ​will​ ​stay​ ​shut​ ​until​ ​the​ ​sixth​ ​month,​ ​but​ ​eyes​ ​are​ ​sensitive​ ​to  light.​ ​​ ​Internal​ ​organs​ ​begin​ ​to​ ​function.​ ​​ ​At​ ​4​ ​months​ ​it’s​ ​6-7​ ​inches​ ​long.​ ​​ ​5-6​ ​ounces​ ​in  weight.​ ​Body​ ​now​ ​growing​ ​faster​ ​than​ ​head.​ ​​ ​Skin​ ​on​ ​hands​ ​and​ ​feet​ ​forms​ ​individual  patterns.​ ​​ ​Eyebrows​ ​and​ ​head​ ​hair​ ​begin​ ​to​ ​show.​ ​​ ​Fine,​ ​downeylike​ ​hair​ ​(lanugo)​ ​covers  body.​ ​​ ​Movements​ ​can​ ​now​ ​be​ ​felt.​ ​​ ​At​ ​5​ ​months​ ​it’s​ ​10-12​ ​inches​ ​long.​ ​​ ​8-16​ ​ounces​ ​in  weight.​ ​​ ​Skeleton​ ​hardens.​ ​​ ​Nails​ ​form​ ​on​ ​fingers​ ​and​ ​toes.​ ​​ ​Skin​ ​covered​ ​with​ ​cheesy​ ​wax.  Heartbeat​ ​now​ ​loud​ ​enough​ ​to​ ​be​ ​heard​ ​with​ ​stethoscope.​ ​​ ​Muscles​ ​are​ ​stronger.​ ​​ ​Definite  strong​ ​kicking​ ​and​ ​turning.​ ​​ ​Can​ ​be​ ​startled​ ​by​ ​noises.​ ​​ ​At​ ​6​ ​months​ ​it’s​ ​12-14​ ​inches​ ​long.  1.5-2​ ​pounds​ ​in​ ​weight.​ ​​ ​Can​ ​open​ ​and​ ​close​ ​eyes.​ ​​ ​Grows​ ​eyelashes.​ ​​ ​Much​ ​more​ ​active,  exercising​ ​muscles.​ ​​ ​May​ ​suck​ ​thumb.​ ​​ ​May​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​breathe​ ​if​ ​born​ ​prematurely.​ ​​ ​At​ ​7  months​ ​it’s​ ​16​ ​inches​ ​long.​ ​​ ​2.5-3​ ​pounds​ ​in​ ​weight.​ ​​ ​Begins​ ​to​ ​develop​ ​fatty​ ​tissue.​ ​​ ​Internal  organs​ ​especially​ ​respiratory​ ​and​ ​digestive​ ​still​ ​developing.​ ​​ ​Has​ ​fair​ ​chance​ ​of​ ​survival​ ​if  born​ ​now.​ ​​ ​At​ ​8​ ​months​ ​it’s​ ​16.5​ ​inches​ ​long.​ ​​ ​It’s​ ​4​ ​pounds​ ​in​ ​weight.​ ​​ ​Fatty​ ​layer​ ​complete.

At​ ​9​ ​months​ ​it’s​ ​born.​ ​​ ​19-20​ ​inches​ ​long.​ ​​ ​6-8​ ​pounds​ ​in​ ​weight.​ ​​ ​95%​ ​of​ ​full​ ​term​ ​babies  born​ ​alive​ ​in​ ​the​ ​U.S.​ ​will​ ​live.

That's today's info!

Thanks for your time!

Rev. Angelia Schwarz Coleman, PhD.E.
Minister Works of Heart
Executive Director Healing Families' Lives, Inc.