Professionals working with children and families typically receive cultural competency training; however, such training rarely includes the influence of culture on family dynamics and child rearing practices (Johnson, Radesky, & Zuckerman 2013). As a professional working with diverse families it is important to consider the influence of culture on parenting. For this discussion, you will be evaluating “How much of how we parent is dictated by our culture?”

* It is important to note that cultural patterns do not represent all people in a community.*

Begin by reading Chapter 6 of your course text and Promoting Healthy Parenting Practices Across Cultural Groups: A CDC Research Brief. Then address the following:

• Discuss three general findings in the research brief about cultural parenting patterns.
• Explain, using Table 1 on page 8 of the research brief, three different cultural patterns regarding what parents consider to be good behavior among children.
• Explain, using Table 1 on page 9 of the research brief, three different cultural patterns regarding what parents consider to be bad behavior among children.
• Evaluate the information you have gained and answer the question, “How much of how we parent is dictated by our culture
• Discussion 2
• Compare and contrast the family structures or dynamics shared in the two articles you read.Explain how you will utilize the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct to provide a foundation for working with the diverse family structures in the two articles you read.
• Discuss at least two strategies that you will use to foster inclusion of all diverse family structures, so that all children will feel supported, regardless of their family configuration. Use one additional scholary source to support your discussion.After reading the two articles, address the following:
• “Family Instability Hits Boys Harder Than Girls and Has Double Poverty’s Influence on Childhood Aggression”
• “Children Living With Female Same-Sex Couples Have 40 Percent More Focused Time With Their Parents”
• “Children Do Just as Well in ‘New Family Structures’ as in the Traditional Family”
• “After Parents Divorce, Regular Overnight Stays With Dad Are Best For Most Young Children”

• To begin this discussion, read the “Creating Welcoming and Inclusive Environments for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Families in Early Childhood Settings” article. In addition, choose one of the articles below to read:

  There is no denying that family structures and dynamics are changing today. Therefore, as professionals working with children, it is important that we understand the diverse family structures we may encounter so that we are ready to help support the children we are working with. The importance of this is also reinforced in Chapter 2 of our course text.