B2 – Upper Intermediate
Parenting is a complex and demanding role that comes with its own set of challenges. As parents, it’s only natural to want the best for our children, but sometimes, in our pursuit of nurturing, protecting, and equipping them for what lies ahead, we may unintentionally engage in a phenomenon known as “parentification.”
Click on the link provided to learn more about the term.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/parentification-parentified-children_l_6536b883e4b0689b3fbd8ac2
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “extreme end of this spectrum” mean in the sentence, “On the more extreme end of this spectrum, they might be facing serious poverty or war or living under a violent regime or in a neighborhood where kids have to grow up too fast.”? Use this in your own sentence.
- What does “to be born out of something” mean in the sentence, “Other ways in which parentification comes about is born out of a parent’s need for emotional support.”? Use this in your own sentence.
- What does “to be not afforded something” mean in the sentence, “They may struggle with being assertive and advocating for themselves, feelings of guilt, depression, and a sense of loss and grief over the childhood they were not afforded the opportunity to experience.”? Use this in your own sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- What is parentification and how does it manifest in parenting?
- Why is parentification considered a problematic phenomenon in child development?
- What are some common signs that a child may be experiencing parentification? Tell me more.
- Are there specific strategies parents can employ to avoid unintentionally parentifying their children? Please share.
- How can parents strike a balance between nurturing their children and allowing them to develop age-appropriate independence?