Do you ever notice your child being more different from their grandparents than to you? Or have you noticed that family issues that were quickly resolved before, now turn into long discussions on parenting styles? In this new age of joint family parenting, where Instagram is blended with tradition and WhatsApp groups manage bedtime story routines.
The whole concept of joint family parenting have become fundamentally re-conceptualized in recent times. As a long-established tradition, a joint family was a dominant feature of Asian cultures, most particularly in India, where more than one generation was dwelling under the same shelter, jointly being responsible, sharing resources, and mutual beliefs. These days, joint family parenting presents some exclusive conveniences and drawbacks which are magnified along with the re-evaluation of social norms and the development of modern lifestyles.
In this blog, we are going to learn more about how the modern parenting style functions in the current environment and how you can maximize its benefits while resolving conflicts. So, stay tuned to the blog.
What is Joint Family Parenting?
Joint family parenting is a family setup where parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives play a role in the upbringing and care of children. Such a shared responsibility introduces a great network of assistance, through which children can produce with different points of view and influences to guide them. On the other hand, gives a scope for some of the burdens that modern nuclear families face, such as balancing work and family life.
5 Benefits of Joint Family Parenting
Living in a joint family system even has a few benefits, particularly as far as the upbringing of children is concerned. Here’s how one generation educating another in a joint family leads to both children and parents:
1. Emotional Support and Stability
- Young ones in joint families find it a lifelong source of support and safety in the family who are always around them.
- In hard times, the availability of such a community of caregivers acts as a pillar for children who can interact with other family members apart from their parents only.
- Studies indicate that children who have grown up in extended family structures tend to be more resilient and flexible, thanks to the emotional security that various elders are giving them.
2. Shared Parenting Responsibilities
- It is widely believed that the joint family structure reduces the burden of raising children since it has many caregivers.
- The multitude of family members thus makes the life of the parents all the more bearable, besides managing the childcare project the stress is equally distributed which even enables them to have a proper equilibrium between work and life.
- Grandparents and other folks do sometimes take an active part in activities such as feeding, schooling, and games along with playtimes periodically, and that gives parents a break.
- The common approach can become a contributing factor to the parents in the balance between work and the family, as they can be assured of family help without having to send their kids to daycare services.
3. Cultural and Moral Learning
- Patriarchal families are the efficient channels selected for the transmission of cultural values, traditions, and morals between different generations, thus the lives of those children are the most impacted by it. It applies to the situation of a student who visits his/her native place- he/she can do this and learn a lot about family history, rituals, and customs.
- Studies show that children who grow up in tight-knit families often have a strong sense of identity and cultural pride that leads to positive effects on their self-esteem and social development because these feelings are involved.
- Alongside several family members being in the process of their upbringing, kids are commonly taught to be open-minded by varying their perspectives and values.
4. Social Skill Development
- The regular interactions of children in joint families, with individuals of different ages, backgrounds, and personalities contribute to the development of strong social skills.
- Such children usually gain skills in communication, negotiation, and empathy, which will serve them in social interactions in the future.
- Family dynamics observation helps kids recognize social roles, respect hierarchies, and resolve conflicts constructively.
5. Financial Advantages
- The cementing of financial obligations is a practical relief for joint families. Residents, by pooling resources, can reduce individual expenses and thus facilitate a more secure financial environment for everyone.
- This scheme is not just limited to education and a bunch of other activities but parents can seamlessly manage such needs and their children as well.
- Financial sharing also gives young people an example of resource management, which teaches them the importance of adding to the common pot and supporting the family household.
5 Challenges in Modern Joint Family Parenting
The cons of communal family parenting in a traditional setting are indeed there, but one of the main ways this is manifesting is when levels of individualism and the necessity to live in nuclear family households are growing. Here are some common challenges and solutions:
1. Generational Conflicts
- Challenge: Generations can have different parenting styles and values, and this leads to clashes. For instance, the grandparent generation may have the impression that traditional practices are of primary importance, while parents from the post-credit-crunch generation may be more comfortable with modern approaches.
- Solution: Open communication is a must. The showing of boundaries and discussing family values, routines, and discipline strategies can lead to a mutual understanding of each other. Besides that regular family meetings could also be a forum to open up, express things as they are, and find a way forward.
2. Lack of Privacy and Independence
- Challenge: It is normal for young parents who live with their extended family to sometimes feel like they are tied up because they cannot make decisions on their own.
- Solution: Setting up one’s own rooms and the regular following of routines can be a way one can remain private. Setting boundaries and having calm talks to respect people’s autonomy in the course of decision-making is a good way of making sure that the collective and individual needs are satisfied.
3. Conflicting Disciplinary Approaches
- Challenge: Different family members might have different ways of discipline which can be confusing for children and thus, they might not get the concept of consistency.
- Solution: The best approach is to discuss and work out a disciplinary plan that everyone agrees on. A common understanding helps imbed good conduct in children and also reduces any possibility of them being confused.
4. Dependency Issues
- Challenge: Sometimes, in joint families, parents may become too reliant on other family members for child care which can be a cause of passive behavior of these parents.
- Solution: The article reveals that support is wonderful, but it is equally important to develop a healthy balance. On the one hand, it is good when parents are involved in their children, but on the other side, simple purpose actions, like scheduling certain hours for parents to be with one another, can boost the expansion of the parent-child bond and procreate the situation where they really participate.
5. Differences in Lifestyle Choices
- Challenge: Nowadays, new parents might have a way of living distinct from traditional values, which results in potential misunderstandings or conflicts in them.
- Solution: Giving out some respect through conversations about personal preferences and demonstrating that one is voluntarily ready actually to compromise will in no time send the special ones the message. The variety in the community can be improved by combining festival activities and family gatherings, even while everyone’s private tastes are respected.
5 Tips for Making Joint Family Parenting Work
With some intentional adjustments, joint family parenting can be an enriching experience. Here are practical tips to maximize its benefits:
- Set Clear Roles and Responsibilities
- Encourage Open Communication
- Celebrate Diversity in Perspectives
- Prioritize Quality Time
- Adapt to Changing Dynamics
The Final Note
Joint family parenting, if done with empathy, respect, and unambiguous communication, can be a good source of parenting for children who become all-rounded. The mix of taking on each other’s duties, learning cultural values, and emotional support results in supporting the children who grow up in an enriching environment. Even though some difficulties cannot be avoided, dealing with these issues positively will be helpful for every family member, including children, to gain the knowledge and joy that a joint family can give.
In this isolated world, joint family parenting introduces a very important way to stay in contact and keep the feelings of support and unity.
