Race and social class affect the way children experience their upbringing. To begin with, children from middle social class miss a lot on leisure time and relationships with the kinsmen (Annette 4). On the other hand, this group of children has a higher propensity to meet schooling and institutional advantages. This gives them an advantage when it comes to the job market. They are empowered with skills which are valuable when they access job opportunities. The class has children who view themselves with a positive attitude about themselves. This is enhanced through child rearing that shape lives and family enactments. This is different from what children from low class experience. This group of children has a higher contact with family. They relate and have leisure with the family more frequently. In addition, they sometimes do not access formal education due to lack of school fees and learning resources. This makes them acquire fewer skills. The high or middle social class is tied to the profession of the parents and siblings. Various professions have various ways they could like their children to be brought up. Teachers may disagree about correcting children who mispronounce a word. Counselors may disagree with parents who are too protective to their children (Annette 4). Children from middle class families whose parents know the great value of education will advise and guide their children on future education pursuits. They are likely to teach them about problem solving. Such parents will encourage their sons and daughters to solve problems through negotiation. They discourage application of force in problem resolution.
The middle class social group are likely to bottle feed their children. The low class social group breastfeed their children. Breast feeding gives emotional warmth to children. Low class social groups tend to be strict and stern to their children (Annette 4). They give corporal punishment which makes children afraid. Rather than being stern, parents are advised to treat their children with empathy and warmth as the middle class does
The middle class parents always yearn to foster the social skills, cognitive ability and development of their children. They provide for shelter, food and finances for their children. Children in such family set -ups have adequate finances purchase basic needs. Moreover, parents view this as a responsibility. They have to meet the needs of their children to accomplish their lives. The outcome is an all round individual, independent in decision making (Annette 5). The skills acquired, and the cognitive development helps such children to access jobs and become financially stable. The middle-class children in the developed countries such as America get exposure to opportunities that enhance their experience. Their parents are always committed towards making their children prosper in their endeavors.
On comparing, the working class and the poor, children from poor families have little access to formal education. They are poorly skilled in the job market and have poor negotiation skills. This is different from the children of middle class social groups who are trained on negotiation skills and are highly skilled due to their exposure to training. Children also get skill differences by interacting with various professionals. Therefore, the different ways of child rearing result to transmission of varied advantages to them.
Works Cited;
Lareau, Annette. Unequal Childhoods: Class, Race, and Family Life. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2003. Print.
