Children's Needs – Parenting Capacity - Digital Education Resource ...

192 Children’s Needs – Parenting CapacityResearch in the US suggests body piercing is not uncommon among young men andwomen. A survey of undergraduates found 42% of men and 60% of women hadbody piercing. The majority of piercing, both for young men and women, was tothe ears and for women the naval. More extreme piercing to the genitals or lips wasrare. Infections and complications occurred in 17% of cases (Mayers et al. 2002).Parents with learning disabilities and those who are overwhelmed with their ownproblems may not be able to offer the necessary reassurance or guidance to moderatesuch extremes.When money and household resources are used to satisfy parental needs foralcohol or illicit drugs, the remaining funds may be insufficient to ensure that youngpeople can ‘keep up appearances’. Because appearance is a priority and pressure frompeers can be intense, those with little parental guidance may avoid peer ridicule byresorting to stealing what clothing, jewellery or other items they perceive to beessential.To have grown up in a culture of family violence may result in young peopleresorting to aggression as a method of solving their own problems. Young peoplewho cannot control their emotions and react aggressively to peers or adults not onlyjeopardise their friendships but place their school or work careers at risk throughexclusion or encounters with the law.Self-care skillsExpected self-care skillsBy 16 years most young people are capable of looking after their own basic needs.For example, they can wash up, shop, cook a simple meal and look after theirclothes. The majority of young people will know how to use public transport andcan organise travel arrangements for themselves.Young people should be able to function independently at a level appropriate totheir age and cognitive and physical ability. But, however well they appear to cope,young people need an adult to whom they can turn to for help and advice whennecessary.Possible impact on self-care skillsAs we have already noted for children aged 11–15 years, being a young carerresults in the acquisition of practical skills well beyond their years. As adulthoodapproaches many young people feel increasingly responsible for their parents andyounger siblings. The degree to which they assume the parenting role will fluctuatedepending on the parent’s mental and physical health, the level of alcohol or drugintake, and the extent of additional familial support.