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Our Babies: Ourselves

August 17th, 2009 Posted in Home Visiting Strategies, Partnering with Families

Culture is inherent throughout every interaction we have with children and families.  Small (1998) states, “Every act by parents, every goal that molds that act, has a foundation in what is appropriate for that particular culture.  In this sense, no parenting style is ‘right’ and no style is ‘wrong’.  It is appropriate or inappropriate only according to culture.”  As you think about this quote, consider the following:

1- When have you found yourself in a home visiting situation when a family has made a decision that aligned with their culture but that you did not agree with?

2- What steps did you take to try and understand the family’s decision?

-submitted by Karen Baas, Infant Development Association

Small, M. 1998. Our Babies, Ourselves: How Biology and Culture Shape the Way We Parent. NY: Anchor Books.

  1. One Response to “Our Babies: Ourselves”

  2. By Eric on Oct 3, 2009

    True. This is difficult when you see a parenting style blatantly different than your own.

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