Why Study Parenting?

The Reasons for Parenting Education  Many people can become parents, but being a good parent is a challenge!  When studying parenting, you learn how to provide the care and guidance that can lead to a child’s total healthful development.

1.To Increase Knowledge and Resources…  Many young families don’t live close to their parents so it is harder for family members to help each other.  Parenting classes will help you to become knowledgeable about child development, physical care, safety, helping children learn, guiding behavior and much more.

2. To Cope in a Changing World…  The world is different today. Changes happen daily, so keeping up isn’t easy.  Children today have many more experiences and opportunities including…  Technology –(computers, internet, , dvds, smartphones) Technology teaches and entertains children, but parents must make sure it is used safely and appropriately.  Toys & Activities – these items are plentiful for today’s children, but are unimaginable for most adults during their own childhood.

 Decisions For Parents – New opportunities are exciting for they help children develop skills in art, music, and other areas. The more options children have, the more decisions parents have to make.  Influences on Children- Parents have to guide their children through one challenging situation after another. Parents today worry about drugs, gangs, children being home alone, etc.  Parenting education teaches families how to get through difficult times and avoid some tough situations altogether.

3.To Learn Essential Life Skills…  Whether or not you ever become a parent, the skills you will learn as you study parenting will help you become more successful in life.  The characteristics of a good parent are the same skills that are important to be successful in both your personal life and also in your career.  Dependability  Responsibility  Honesty  Good Leadership & Team Players  Effective Communicators  Skillful Managers

4. To Build a Strong Society…  Learning to be an effective parent can make a difference to all society. A. Families First A. Families First Families are the basic building blocks of society.Families are the basic building blocks of society. Remember if families have problems, that often spells trouble for other families and the communities in which they live.Remember if families have problems, that often spells trouble for other families and the communities in which they live. B. Looking for Solutions B. Looking for Solutions Laws aimed at improving life for familiesLaws aimed at improving life for families Programs in many communities offer classes, information and resources for families.Programs in many communities offer classes, information and resources for families. When parents form healthy families, their children are more likely to raise well-adjusted families too.When parents form healthy families, their children are more likely to raise well-adjusted families too. and that is very good for society.and that is very good for society.

5. To Gain the Rewards of Parenting… The rewards of parenting can last a lifetime! The rewards of parenting can last a lifetime!  A. Youthful Perspective: Children’s humor and liveliness have a way of keeping parents youthful and reminding adults of simple pleasures. Children’s humor and liveliness have a way of keeping parents youthful and reminding adults of simple pleasures. Parents can forget about everyday concerns and relive the excitement of childhood. Parents can forget about everyday concerns and relive the excitement of childhood. A child’s desire to know leads to the parent’s desire to teach. A child’s desire to know leads to the parent’s desire to teach.

 B. Emotion Fulfillment:  Sensing the love of a child warms the heart! The love and respect of a child is something parents want to cherish throughout a lifetime.  C. Family Continuation: Having children to carry on family traditions and heritage is important to many people. Having children to carry on family traditions and heritage is important to many people. Parents hope to raise children who eventually have happy, healthy families of their own. Parents hope to raise children who eventually have happy, healthy families of their own. If you raise a strong family, your children have a better chance of doing the same. If you raise a strong family, your children have a better chance of doing the same.

 D. Personal Growth: Being a good parent helps you develop skills, strengths and understandings you might not gain in other ways. Being a good parent helps you develop skills, strengths and understandings you might not gain in other ways. Putting a child first teaches self-sacrifice. A parent feels responsible for someone else and learns to focus on what is important in life. Putting a child first teaches self-sacrifice. A parent feels responsible for someone else and learns to focus on what is important in life. Parents can learn more about themselves and their own thinking through their children. Parents can learn more about themselves and their own thinking through their children.

E. Sense of Pride:  Not only do parents feel pride in their children, but they are also justified in feeling proud of themselves.  One parenting challenge is learning how to help a child have successes.  Parents begin with a helpless infant and work to produce a young adult who is independent and caring. Most parents would say there is no greater accomplishment in life!

6. To Meet Parenting Responsibilities…  Most parents want to do their job well, and they’re looking for help. A. Nurturing Children: A. Nurturing Children: Parents encourage growth and development by making sure the child is content and secure. Attention and love allows a child to thrive. Parents encourage growth and development by making sure the child is content and secure. Attention and love allows a child to thrive. What each child becomes, however, hinges heavily on the care received. Without nurturing, it is very difficult for children to reach toward their potential.Without nurturing, it is very difficult for children to reach toward their potential.

 B. Protecting Children: Infants and toddlers need constant supervision as well as the growing child who sees life as an adventure and doesn’t recognize the dangers. Infants and toddlers need constant supervision as well as the growing child who sees life as an adventure and doesn’t recognize the dangers. Learning safety principles and putting them into action is a parent’s duty. Learning safety principles and putting them into action is a parent’s duty. As a child grows to an adult, parents still have the instinct to protect. As a child grows to an adult, parents still have the instinct to protect.  C. Teaching Children: Nurturing a child is critical to brain development and how well it develops depends on the close attention pay to children right from birth. Nurturing a child is critical to brain development and how well it develops depends on the close attention pay to children right from birth. Effective parenting means looking for opportunities to teach children and make it fun. Effective parenting means looking for opportunities to teach children and make it fun.

 D. Guiding Children: Proper guidance shapes behavior and attitudes; parents use their own values and communication skills to guide their children. Proper guidance shapes behavior and attitudes; parents use their own values and communication skills to guide their children. Young children naturally imitate others, so parents are constantly setting examples for children to follow. Young children naturally imitate others, so parents are constantly setting examples for children to follow.  E. Legal Responsibility for Children Provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care and education for their children. Provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care and education for their children. Parents may also be financially responsible for damage to property or injury of another person caused by their child. Parents may also be financially responsible for damage to property or injury of another person caused by their child.

What happens if parents do not meet the legal needs of their children?  Parents can forfeit rights as parents.  If parents neglect their legal responsibilities, a judge may issue an order for termination of parental rights.  Reasons for termination of parental rights include severe abuse or neglect, abandonment, and long-term alcohol or drug abuse.

Parents must meet the financial needs of their children:  According to the USDA Data…  It costs $169, for families with incomes of $59, or less to raise a child to age 18 $59, or less to raise a child to age 18 years. years.  A family earning $59, $102, will spend $234, to raise a child born in  A family earning $102, or more will spend $389, to raise a child born in  That doesn't even include college tuition.

Using The Parenting Skills You Learn…  Babysitting: As a babysitter, you need the ability to handle routine care as well as emergencies.  Friends and Neighbors: Children are everywhere. You will be a better friend and neighbor if you can make these relationships strong.  Family: Links with children in a family can include brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, and stepchildren.

 Careers That Involve Children: Whether you become a teacher, financial advisor, or a city bus driver, you can put your parenting skills to work.  Volunteerism: People volunteer to help in church nurseries, summer park programs, and charitable events that involve children.  All Relationships: All your relationships can become stronger when you build and apply the many parenting skills you’ll learn in this course.

Resource Time… Go to websites below to find your family type and the cost of raising a family… ator/default.aspx

Identify the Parenting Responsibility represented Grandma and 4 year old Tracy walk over to the garden in Grandma’s backyard. Tracy is excited to see the tiny green plants shooting from the ground. She reaches out to pick one. Grandma pulls her close and says, “That tiny green plant with grow the green beans we love to eat. The tiny seeds I planted in the Spring grew into those plants.” Parenting Responsibility: Teaching

Identify the Parenting Responsibility represented Mr. Johnson is in his favorite chair, reading the Newspaper. Anna walks into the room. She sees her dad and runs to him. He’s been gone all day and now he’s here! When Mr. Johnson sees Anna, he holds his arms out to greet her. “How was your day Anna? Come and tell me all about it.” Parenting Responsibility: Nurturing

Identify the Parenting Responsibility represented Five year old Jeremy turns toward his mother as the nurse approaches with the vaccination. “I don’t want a shot!” His voice gets louder and he repeats his protest. His mother holds him and says, “Look at me. Take a deep breath. This will sting your arm for just a few seconds, but it will help keep your body healthy.” Parenting Responsibility: Protecting

Identify the Parenting Responsibility represented Mrs. Roberts sees the broken clay pot. Then she turns her attention to four year old Reese. He stands in front of her, red faced. Tears are running down his cheeks. Mrs. Roberts kneels down to look at him eye-to- eye. She says, “I know you are feeling angry right now. If you want to throw something, then throw a ball, not flowerpots.” Parenting Responsibility: Guiding

Parenting Survey  Reflect on the following scenario:  Darnell’s parents are uneasy about him taking a parenting class. “We know we made some mistakes raising you, ‘they say’. Is this course going point that out? What might Darnell say to reassure them?