WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO IF YOUR INFANT CRIED CONSTANTLY? WHAT IF YOUR CHILD WAS AFRAID TO GO TO BED AT NIGHT? Why Study Parenting?

Reasons for Parenting Education? 1) To increase knowledge and resources Years ago more families lived near each other or in the same house. Older family members could advise the younger parents.

2) To cope with a changing world: * More options for children = kids today have more experiences and opportunities than your parents. 1) Technology: can teach and entertain children. Parents must make sure children use technology safely and appropriately.

2) Toys and activities: Children have equipement that adults never would have imagined during their own childhood. * school activities, sports, and special interest classes ( parents struggle to include a child activity as they balance busy work and personal schedules) 3) Decisions for Parents: What types of programs should parents put their kids in?

3) To build a strong society: * Learning to be an effective parent can make a difference to all of society. * Families basic building blocks of society. * Nation wide concern about families. * Chain reaction of violence. * Family related laws. * When parents form healthy families their children are more likely to raise well adjusted families too.

4) Gain rewards of Parenting: A job well done can bring lasting pleasures. * Youthful perspective: children have a way of keeping parents young. Sharing a child’s wonder and excitement. * Emotional fulfillment: The love a child gives. * Family continuation: * Personal Growth: Rewarded by growing from the whole experience of being a parent. * Sense of Pride: Parents feel pride in their children.

5. To meet parenting responsibilities: children have the right to be nurtured, protected, taught, and guided. Meeting these responsibilities as a parent is what this course is all about.

Bad Parenting!!

Parenting Responsibilities 1) Nurturing Children: To nurture is to encourage growth and development. Every child is born with potential. Potential is what a person is capable of becoming. What each child becomes, however, hinges heavily on the care received. 2) Protecting children: Infants and toddlers need constant supervision. Parents must pay attention all the time. Would you know what to do if a child swallowed an adult’s medication? Learning safety principles and putting them into action is a parent’s duty. As children become more independent parents protect a little less.

Parenting Responsibilities Cont’d 3) Teaching Children: Nurturing a child is critical to brain development. So is making sure a child has opportunities to learn. Effective parenting means looking for opportunities to teach a child. Parents should be constantly identifying objects to baby, and talking and explaining things. 4) Guiding children: Guidance shapes behaviour and attitudes. Parents use their own values to guide children.