Child-Rearing Customs in America

Family Planning

• Family planning in America has created a standard nuclear family that has two parents and one child. Couples use birth control as a means of raising only the amount of children they desire, which differs from most Asian or developing countries, where birth control is not available or not desired. This allows American parents to devote as much time and effort as they can to raising one or two children.

Value System

• Children are raised with the idea of individualism in North America, which differs from other cultures, such as Japan or China, which places emphasis on the group and what is best for society. This value system also places accentuation on socio-economic status and the importance of money. The nuclear family is also considered more important in America than the extended family. Privacy is valued, and many children often have their own room, separate from other family members.

Education

• Education is fairly laid out for American children. The school system is dictated by the state and regional school boards, and overseen by the U.S. school system. As soon as children are of age, about four years old, they are sent to preschool. Children then continue to go to school and, once they reach high school and/or the age of 16, they have two options. Teens can decide if they want to complete their high school education to obtain their diploma and continue on to college or if they want to continue with school at all, since 16 is, legally, the age when they can decide to stop school.

Independence

• To leave the house as an adult signifies that a child is fully independent from his family. This usually means that they are financially able to take care of themselves and no longer have any support from their families. If needed, parents will aid children. However, children usually do not financially contribute back to their parents, unlike many Latin American Countries.