PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY Meaning and
Definition
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Parental responsibility refers to the legal and moral obligations that parents have towards their children. It encompasses the rights, duties, powers, and authority that parents hold regarding their child’s upbringing, welfare, and overall development. This term reflects the responsibilities that parents have for their children’s physical, emotional, and social well-being.
Legally, parental responsibility grants parents the authority to make important decisions on behalf of their child, including matters related to their education, healthcare, and religion. It entails ensuring that the child has a safe and nurturing environment, providing for their basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing, and making choices that are in their best interest.
Parental responsibility also involves nurturing and supporting a child’s emotional and psychological development. It includes providing them with love, care, and guidance, and being actively involved in their life. This may include spending quality time with the child, actively participating in their education and extracurricular activities, and assisting in their moral and ethical values formation.
Furthermore, parental responsibility extends beyond the child’s immediate needs and encompasses promoting their long-term wellbeing. This may involve teaching them life skills, instilling discipline, and setting boundaries to ensure their safety. Additionally, it encompasses protecting the child from harm and advocating for their rights and interests.
In summary, parental responsibility encompasses the wide range of obligations, rights, and duties that parents have towards their children, aiming to provide a nurturing, supportive, and safe environment for them to grow and flourish.
Etymology of PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
The term "parental responsibility" is formed by combining the words "parental" and "responsibility". Here is the etymology of each individual word:
1. Parental: The word "parental" comes from the Latin word "parentalis", which is derived from "parens" meaning "parent". "Parentalis" made its way into Old French as "parental" and later into Middle English in the 15th century.
2. Responsibility: The word "responsibility" is rooted in the Latin word "responsus", which is the past participle of "respondere" meaning "to respond". It first entered the English language in the late 16th century as "responsibilitie", with the suffix "-ity" denoting quality or condition.
Combining these words, "parental responsibility" refers to the obligations or duties associated with being a parent.
