Virtual Child Reflection Paper

Throughout the course of the Virtual Child assignment I learned about how different parenting styles can affect children. I decided before raising my child that I wanted to mimic my parent’s style that they had used. I am an only child and my parents were strict and demanding, yet that taught me how to be determined and responsible. On January 25, 2016 at 8:34 AM I gave birth to my virtual child Amelia (Manis, 2008). My spouse and I chose the name Amelia based on the strong characteristics of Amelia Earhart. My spouse and I remained married throughout the course of Amelia’s life even though we fought occasionally. When Amelia was 3 years old I gave birth to her sister Evelyn; Amelia loved being an older sibling and having a playmate at home.

For example, when I filled out the parent questionnaire when Amelia was 3, my feedback was that I was average in affection and warmth and that I was above average in discipline and strictness. When Amelia was 6, interviewed by a psychologist and my results were that I was in the top 15% for both warmth and affection and discipline and control towards my child. Lastly, when Amelia was 13 she told me that I was “more supportive and approving that the average parent… and that you’re stricter than the average parent.” Overall, it appears that I became more affectionate and stricter with Amelia as time went

The Virtual Child assignment was a new world for me especially because I have never so much as changed a diaper. I learned how some situations for parents are tough like balancing work and children especially when you want save money to settle down in a home. Overall this experience gave me first hand experience in making the tough decisions and watching children develop in all aspects: language, cognitive, emotional, etc. The program was beneficial because it taught me how a little decision can affect your child’s upbringing. Lastly the program taught me firsthand how child think and act as a result of them trying to learn as much from the surrounding