“The Class Menagerie” Parent-Child Relationships

“The Class Menagerie” Parent-Child Relationships After reading different stories in the Making Literature Matter, I have chosen “The Class Menagerie” to construct an argument regarding an issue of parent-child relationships. We have all known the importance of the relationship between parents and children. “Individual goals often include good health, the absence of stress, and lifelong positive relationships with their children” (Kuchner). Basically, the very first people we have closely connected with since the born of us are our parents. “Although in individuals may form numerous interpersonal relationships throughout their lives, parent-child relationships begin early in children’s lives and are critical for children’s long-term adjustment and success” (Orbuch). However, as the children grow older, they have more thoughts of viewing different things in their own ways. That always leads to more conflicts between parents and children. Especially at the age of teenagers, they are just turning the level of maturities.
“Although parents assert that their relationship with their children is of prime importance, they frequently do not know how to nurture it” (Kuchner).
“Parent- to- parent peer pressure is increasingly motivating parents to focus on academic skill building in younger and younger children. This is fueled by the sales pitches for computer programs, interactive toys and DVDs that promise to turn an infant or toddler into an early reader and ultimately an academic success” (Kuchner). “Early research suggested that parental separation and divorce are associated with a number of negative outcomes in children, such as emotional and behavioral problems, poor school achievement, low self-esteem, and juvenile delinquency”(Amato).
“The strength and quality of parent-child ties also may depend on gender combinations, with same-sex ties strongest (rossi & Rossi, 1990, Suitor & Pillemer, 1988).
“Adult child-parent relations in the United States are characterized by frequent visits, telephone calls and letters, and close proximity” (Lye).

Works Cited
Butler, Ian. Divorcing Children : Children 's Experience Of Their Parents ' Divorce. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2003. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 7 Nov. 2011.
Lye, Diane N. “Adult Child–Parent Relationships.” Annual Review of Sociology, Vol. 22, (1996), pp. 79-102
Kuchner, Joan F. "Parent-Child Play, A Foundation For Positive Relationships: Replacing Stumbling Blocks With Building Blocks." Online Submission (2010): ERIC. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.
Amato, Paul R. “Marital Conflict, the Parent-Child Relationship and Child Self-Esteem.” Family Relations, Vol. 35, No. 3 (Jul., 1986), pp. 403-410
Ward, Russell A. and Spitze, Glenna. “Gender Differences in Parent-Child Coresidence Experiences.” Journal of Marriage and Family , Vol. 58, No. 3 (Aug., 1996), pp. 718-725
Orbuch, Terri L. “Parent-Child Relationships and Quality of Life: Resilience Among Childhood Cancer Survivors.” Family Relations, Vol. 54, No. 2 (Apr., 2005), pp. 171-183

Cited: Butler, Ian. Divorcing Children : Children 's Experience Of Their Parents ' Divorce. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2003 Lye, Diane N. “Adult Child–Parent Relationships.” Annual Review of Sociology, Vol. 22, (1996), pp Kuchner, Joan F. "Parent-Child Play, A Foundation For Positive Relationships: Replacing Stumbling Blocks With Building Blocks." Online Submission (2010): ERIC