Title: Estimate financial costs of parenthood.
Course: GRADS: Family Focus (19905-18) > Section: Evaluating the Cost of Parenthood

Estimate should include the average cost of raising a child from conception to age 18, including

- maternity care and delivery
- housing
- food
- transportation
- clothing
- health care
- childcare and education
- costs of additional care for special-needs children
- miscellaneous expenses.

Process/Skill Questions

Thinking

- How will plans for your education and career goals be affected by having a child?
- How will goals such as buying a car, living on your own, and having a savings account be affected by having a child?
- How do you think your educational endeavors will relate to job satisfaction and financial security?

Communication

- How can the mother and father communicate about the basic cost of having a child?
- What resources are available to help parents plan for the financial responsibility of a child?

Leadership

- What plans have you made to meet expenses for yourself and your newborn with your present income?
- What level of income would be needed to meet the basic needs associated with parenthood?
- How will you prepare adequate living quarters for you and your new baby?

Management

- What would the average cost per year be to raise a child when the family income is in the middle-income range? Lower? Higher?
- What plans have you made to meet expenses associated with health care?
- Why should your family health coverage include adolescent pregnancy and the child?