Essay On Child Rearing

Child rearing practises-
Research has shown that generally Jamaican parenting is authoritarian; this is due to the patterns of discipline and communication that are used by the parents. They are very strict by nature and expect their children to excel in both academics and athletics. Their child rearing practises are seen to be as severe and abusive, physical punishment such as ‘flogging’ is culturally accepted and supported.
“Arnold (1982) has stated: "At times the 'beating' as it is commonly called can be severe and bears no relevance to the age of the child nor the stage of its development" (p. 141). The flogging of children "is carried out in such a way as to appear almost brutal. The hand, a stick, a belt, a shoe, or a tamarind switch are used to beat children to ensure compliance" (Leo-Rhynie, 1997, p. 44). Discipline 'becomes severely enforced through 'shouting' and 'flogging' or 'beating.' Children are punished in this way for lying, stealing, disobedience, impoliteness and not completing their chores. 'Playing in the house,' 'crying too much' and 'not eating the meal provided' also constitute misdemeanours which warrant a 'beating'"”
Communication being the second part of the authoritarian rearing practise is always poor. Jamaican parents are often unwilling to hold or in engage in communication with their children and complain that their children talk too much and ask to many questions. If a child was to ask why they were about to or are doing something, the parent would simply answer with ‘do it because I say so.’ They would respond with this in the hopes to avoid more questioning and to shut the child up. While their parenting is harsh and abusive, they still believe strongly in family and rewarding the child for ach...

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