Content Area: Health and Physical Education

 

Index: 2.4C Grade 8 CPI 7

 

Standard: 2.4 - Human Relationships & Sexuality

 

Strand: C - Pregnancy and Parenting

 

Cumulative Progress Indicator: 7 - The student will describe effective parenting strategies and resources for help with parenting.

 

Grade: 8

 

Sample Activities:

 

·        SETTING LIMITS - Brainstorm limits placed on student behavior. Follow the discussion by asking students what are the consequences when limits or boundaries are broken. Use the following example to illustrate setting limits.

Ask for two volunteers. Attach a very long leash or rope around the waist of one of the volunteers. Hand the other student the end of the cord. Ask the holder to wind the extra cord around his/her arm until the two students are very close together. Tell students that this is how parents view their children when they are small. Parents keep a tight leash on their child to keep him/her safe. Now have the students extend the leash a little bit. Ask students if they remember the first time they were allowed to ride their bike out of the neighborhood. Explain that parents constantly release some of the “leash” as their child grows older and makes good decisions. Have the student release a little more rope. (The child is more mature.) As children get older, their parents may allow them to go to parties. What happens if the child breaks curfew? (The rope becomes tighter again.) This is one way parents try to set limits and at the same time allow their children to grow up and demonstrate safe behavior. After the demonstration, students write a journal entry describing a time when their parent/guardian set limits. Students should address the following questions in the entry:
·        Were the limits fair?
·        What behaviors prompted your parent’s decision to increase or decrease the limits?
·        Have your limits changes in the last year? Why or why not? What could you do to increase the likelihood of increased limits?

 

·        KNOW THE CONSEQUENCES - When children break rules, there are consequences. Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a parent-child scenario, similar to the ones below. Using the “Effective Parents Checklist,” each group analyzes the situation and suggests ways the parent might handle the situation.

 

      EFFECTIVE PARENTS CHECKLIST
Effective Parents:
·        Act quickly and consistently.
·        Distinguish between the behavior and the child.
·        Ignore minor infractions and save the fireworks for real problems.
·        Praise positive behavior.
·        Are friendly, fair and firm.
·        Give choices, when appropriate.
·        Are a positive role model.

 

      Scenario #1: I WANT IT!
A mother and her 4 year-old child are in a store. The child has a popular toy in his/her hands and is screaming “I want it!”

Scenario #2: AFTER HOURS
A 12 year-old wants to go to a party that will last until midnight. The teen’s curfew is now 10 p.m.

Scenario #3: IT WASN'T MY FAULT!
A 14 year-old brings home a report card with a failing grade.

Scenario #4: JUST BECAUSE MY BROTHER DID...
A 13 year-old wants to attend a rock concert with some friends. The teen’s older brother was just arrested at a local concert for underage drinking.

Scenario #5: THE BIGGER THE BETTER...NOT!
A 7 year-old wants the largest candy bar at the checkout counter. The child begins screaming “You hit me!” in hopes that the parent will just buy the candy to shut him/her up.

 

Effective Parents Checklist:

§         Act quickly and consistently.

§         Distinguish between the behavior and the child.

§         Ignore minor infractions and save the fireworks for real problems.

§         Praise positive behavior.

§         Are friendly, fair and firm.

§         Give choices, when appropriate.

§         Are a positive role model.