Nobody can deny that parental influence is important for children, at least in cases where children live with their parents, foster parents or guardians. However, it is by no means clear that children should spend time exclusively with their family, as we will see.
On the one hand, it may appear advisable for parents to act as role models and to establish ground rules for behaviour by spending as much moment as absorb conventions and codes of conduct which they can then follow themselves hopefully leading to an absence of problems such as bullying, truancy and delinquency later on. Furthermore, being with the family should reduce the risk of children falling victim to crimes such as abduction or coming under the influence of negative peer pressure.
On the other hand, we have to ask whether this is a practical proposition. In a society, where many families are dual- income, or where one parent's role as breadwinner means he/she is away from the family for long periods, it is inevitable that children cannot spend all of their hours the family. Child-minding and after school childcare are often used in these cases, and if managed properly, these can be perfectly viable alternatives. Equally, it seems that children can in some cases learn a considerable amount from their peers in addition to adults, and allowing them to play without direct supervision may be a benefit.
To conclude, it appears that, while family space is essential for bonding and absorbing patterns of behaviour, there are definite advantages when children are outside the family too. This is provided that they are in a safe, well-behaved environment with peers who are themselves reasonably well brought-up.
Nobody can deny that parental influence is
important
for
children
, at least in cases where
children
live
with their parents, foster parents or guardians.
However
, it is by no means
clear
that
children
should spend time exclusively with their
family
, as we will
see
.
On the one hand, it may appear advisable for parents to act as role models and to establish ground
rules
for
behaviour
by spending as much moment as absorb conventions and codes of conduct which they can then follow themselves
hopefully
leading to an absence of problems such as bullying, truancy and delinquency later on.
Furthermore
, being with the
family
should
reduce
the
risk
of
children
falling victim to crimes such as abduction or coming under the influence of
negative
peer pressure.
On the other hand
, we
have to
ask whether this is a practical proposition. In a society, where
many
families
are dual- income, or where one parent's role as breadwinner means he/she is away from the
family
for long periods, it is inevitable that
children
cannot spend all of their hours the
family
. Child-minding and after school childcare are
often
used
in these cases, and if managed
properly
, these can be
perfectly
viable alternatives.
Equally
, it seems that
children
can in
some
cases learn a considerable amount from their peers
in addition
to adults, and allowing them to play without direct supervision may be a benefit.
To conclude
, it appears that, while
family
space is essential for bonding and absorbing patterns of
behaviour
, there are
definite
advantages when
children
are outside the
family
too. This
is provided
that they are in a safe, well-behaved environment with peers who are themselves
reasonably
well brought-up.