The Family
Being a good parent
Aim
Understand the
qualities of a
good and bad
parent.
Understand
Christian
attitudes
towards the
family
Exam style question…
“Children raised in a Christian family will have
a better upbringing than those children
born to non-religious parents.”
Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer,
showing that you have thought about more
than one point of view. Refer to religious
arguments in your answer.
(6 marks)
You will be able to answer this
question by the end.
Mark scheme…
Marks
Criteria
1 mark
Opinion supported by a simple reason.
2 marks
Opinion supported by one developed reason or two simple
reasons.
3 marks
Opinion supported by one well developed reason or several
simple reasons. Students who do not make reference to
religion will receive no more than 3 marks.
4 marks
Opinion supported by two developed reasons with reference
to religion.
5 marks
Consider two points of view with knowledge and
understanding of religion.
6 marks
Two well developed points of view, well argued with
application of religious knowledge and understanding.
Key terms…
Parenting – The rearing of a child or children, especially the
care, love, and guidance given by a parent.
Family – a group of people who are related by blood, marriage or
adoption.
Nuclear family – A couple (often married) and their
dependent children.
Extended family – Several generations, living in
the same house and having other relatives living close by.
Lone parent family – One parent living with children
Reconstituted family – Two adults who have children from
previous relationships.
Why do
Christians
favour the
nuclear and
extended
family?
A good parent is someone who.......
“Tell me and I forget, teach
me and I may remember,
involve me and I learn.”
― Benjamin Franklin
“If you have never
been hated by your
child, you have
never been a
parent.”
― Bette Davis
“Your children need
your presence more
than your presents.”
- Jesse Jackson
Low self esteem
Drug abuse
Lack of respect
Anger
Poor
achievement
Disruptive
at school
Being a good parent…
Good parents love, care and raise their children to know
right from wrong. They teach them how to relate well
to others and be good citizens. Religious parents
raise their children within their faith.
This seems obvious but not for everyone! In recent years
poor parenting skills of some people have been
highlighted on TV. (Think Jeremy Kyle!) Experts sort
out the bad behaviour of children whose parents give
in to their tantrums (‘Super Nanny’) and ‘Boot Camps’
teach badly behaved teenagers how to behave.
1. Should children be taken away from ‘bad parents’?
2. Will having bad parents, make you a bad parent?
3. Should the government ‘ban’ some people from
having children?
3 marks – Opinion supported by reasons
The Christian family…
• For Christians marriage is important and the purpose of
marriage is to have children.
• Being able to create life is a gift from God.
• Christians believe that children should be brought up to
follow Christian principles and raised in accordance to God’s
will.
Marriage
Having children shows:
• Commitment
• Love
• Fulfilment of a relationship
• Duty
• Family tradition
Children
Good parenting
1. Why is it important for Christians
to have children?
2. How should Christian children be
brought up?
3. What does having children show
for Christians?
4 marks – opinion with
reference to religion.
The Bible…
“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he
will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6)
If your children are not shown the correct path at a young age, how will
they even know it exists? Train them to be righteous. As they grow older
and gain wisdom, they will naturally lean towards this path.
“Children, obey your parents in everything for this pleases the
Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will
become discouraged.” (Colossians 3:20-21)
Use reasonable, loving correction not angry, emotional punishment.
Stick in quotation sheet.
The Christian family…
How would Christianity affect family life?
• Attend church.
• Children go to Sunday School.
• Children brought up to follow Christian values e.g. The Ten Commandments,
marriage important, no drinking / smoking.
• Meaning rules and boundaries maybe more strict than for non-religious
families.
THE CHRISTIAN VIEW OF
THE FAMILY
• Christians believe that one of the main aims of marriage is to have
children and bring them up in a stable loving environment.
• As they grow up they will learn social and Christian values which will
help them through life.
• Christians believe that it is important for all members of the family
to support each other.
• Parents should raise their children with loving discipline based on
Christian principles.
• Children should respect their parents and care for them in their old
age.
• The Christian family should be a unit of mutual love and support.
Many Christians believe that it is the loss of these Christian family
values which have led to many of the problems of modern day
society.
Stick this in your book
Exam style question…
“Children raised in a Christian family will have
a better upbringing than those children
born to non-religious parents.”
Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer,
showing that you have thought about more
than one point of view. Refer to religious
arguments in your answer.
(6 marks)
Mark scheme…
Marks
Criteria
1 mark
Opinion supported by a simple reason.
2 marks
Opinion supported by one developed reason or two simple
reasons.
3 marks
Opinion supported by one well developed reason or several
simple reasons. Students who do not make reference to
religion will receive no more than 3 marks.
4 marks
Opinion supported by two developed reasons with reference
to religion.
5 marks
Consider two points of view with knowledge and
understanding of religion.
6 marks
Two well developed points of view, well argued with
application of religious knowledge and understanding.
Sample answer…
I disagree that children raised in a non-religious family will have a worse
upbringing. Religion alone is not responsible for influencing a person’s
actions. People who are not religious can still have a strong sense of
morality and know what is right and wrong and can therefore teach this to
their children. An effective parent is one who loves and cares for their
children, who provides emotional and financial support and just because a
parent is not religious it does not mean they will not do this.
However some people would agree with this statement and do believe
children have a better upbringing in a Christian family. They believe that
Christianity sets down rules and boundaries that are clear for parents to
follow, for example ‘The Ten Commandments’. A Christian child may also
attend church and go to Sunday school and be surrounded by like minded
people with shared values. They may also feel secure in the knowledge that
religion preaches against divorce and encourages families to work together
through difficult times.
Swop books
highlight
A*Two well developed points of view, well
points that
argued with application of religious knowledge
appear in
answer.
and understanding.
Exam style question…
‘Married couples make better parents.’
Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer, showing
that you have thought about
more than one point of view. Refer to religious
arguments in your answer. (6 marks)
To help you write a
‘model’ answer you are
going to use the mark
scheme given by the exam
board.
A
*
‘Married couples make better parents.’
Use information to
write A* answer. (Two
sides, developed,
religious opinion)
Students may include some of the following points:
Agree
A married couple are more committed as vows have been made before
God to remain faithful / part of God’s plan for a couple to have children
and bring them up / different roles support the raising of children /
father’s responsibility is to support the family whilst mother looks after
the children / two parents means children able to have more quality
time with a parent than if there was only one / parents not married then
relationship may not be as strong or committed.
Other Views
Many families are strong and supportive of children without the parents
being married / some are one parent families and children still have
happy childhoods / married parents are no guarantee of happiness as
family could still be victims of domestic abuse / surely better to be
single parent family and happy than married and unhappy.
(6 marks)
Should there be lessons on
parenting in school ?
A religious parent would......
‘The World’s Strictest Parents’
Video clips – out of control children
Sent abroad to live with religious
families!
Parenting
Parenting 2
Exam style question…
'Religious people should never divorce.'
Do you agree? Give reasons for your
answer, showing that you have thought
about more than one point of view. Refer
to religious arguments in your answer.
(6 marks)
If you finish…
1.
2.
3.
Make a list of some causes of tension in a family.
Write down the names of members of your ‘nuclear
family’ and your extended family’.
Write a paragraph about the way that the family
has changed in our society over the last century.
(think about working hours, unemployment, changing
roles pressures on young people).