Letter to My Future Child Assignment PSYC 2314 Spring 2010
This assignment is to be typed, 2-3 pages long, and is due Monday, February 1 in class.
In this assignment, you are to compose a letter to your future before his/her birth if you do not yet have children, or to your current child. This is a letter that would be given to this child on his/her 18th birthday. If your children are older or adult, perhaps you would like to write the letter to a future grandchild.
The letter should communicate to the child the following as a starting point (there are MANY other questions you can answer—this is just to get you started):
When/why did you decide to have the child. Was it a planned or expected pregnancy, or perhaps not? What stage of life were you in? What type of family situation was the child brought into? Are there other siblings? Extended or small nuclear family?
What do you see this child’s infancy as being like? Toddlerhood? Preschool years? What is important to you to see in the development of this future child from an early age? What style of parenting will you use? Will it be similar to or different from the way you were parented? What types of playthings will be a part of the child’s life? What chores will be expected at what age? How will the child be disciplined at this age? Who will care for the child when you are away? Will you work outside the home when the child is young or not? What will be the role of the father?
What do you see your child’s school years as being like? What will be the role of media in his/her life? Again, how will the child be trained and disciplined? What character traits are important to you and how will you develop them?What type of schooling will you choose, and what do you think should be the emphasis of the child’s education? What will be the type and role of extracurricular activities?
During adolescence, how will your role and style change as a parent? How will you deal with life issues, such as rebellion, drugs, alcohol, and sexuality? Will the child work outside the home during high school? How do you hope to guide the child in career and educational choice?
Be sure to use 10-12 font, Arial, Courier, or Times New Roman, double space, and put your name and course title, Lifespan Development, PSYC 2314, as a heading on the paper. Have fun with this assignment! It is my hope that you will put a lot of thought into it, and end up with a letter you may indeed want to share with a future child some day.