Parent education helps parents or future parents acquire the practical and emotional skills needed to raise children. Mothers and fathers develop some of these skills informally, by recalling how they themselves were brought up and by trial and error. They also learn by watching other parents and by sharing experiences and ideas with them. But almost all parents find that raising children is more challenging than they expected. As a result, many parents supplement informal learning with formal activities specifically designed to teach skills of parenthood. This article discusses the type of formal parent education that is offered by schools, social service agencies, churches, and other organizations.
Changing family life contributed to rapid growth of parent education programs during the late 1900’s. The traditional American family once consisted of a working father, a mother who did not work outside the home, and their children. New parents were likely to live near their own parents, who helped with child care and provided advice and support. Today, many new mothers and fathers live far away from their own parents. Both parents in two-parent families often work outside the home, and many other families are headed by a single working parent. Single teenagers who become parents may need extra support and guidance.
Such circumstances of modern parenthood may result in stress and loneliness. In severe cases, pressure and isolation can lead parents to abuse drugs or alcohol or to neglect or abuse their children. Parent education programs help mothers and fathers cope with a wide range of challenges, from minor frustrations to major hardships.
Methods of parent education
Parent education may be organized in different ways. Some groups consist of parents who have children of similar ages. Another type is made up of parents who share a common experience, such as having been abused themselves as children. A third type brings together parents who want to learn a skill, such as giving children a voice in family decisions. Methods of parent education include (1) media-based education, (2) study groups, (3) observation and participation, (4) home visitation, and (5) group training.
Media-based education
reaches people through books, magazines, newspapers, television, radio, computers, and other sources. Many how-to books provide parenting advice. Magazines, newspapers, TV, and radio cover many topics of interest to fathers and mothers. The internet also offers a wide variety of resources about parenting.
Study groups
meet to explore approaches to raising children. Some groups focus on one particular method. Others investigate a wide range of topics and theories. Study groups enable parents to talk with others who have similar situations and to learn from one another. Many such groups teach parents strategies for understanding relationships within families. Parents also learn to express themselves effectively and to listen carefully to each other and to their children.
Observation and participation
take place in a classroom or other instructional setting. An expert demonstrates various techniques for mothers or fathers. The parents then practice their newly learned skills with their children while the expert supervises their efforts.
Home visitation
helps parents encourage their children’s development. Experts known as home visitors call on parents and show them how to use books, toys, and everyday activities to teach ideas and skills. The visitors may also leave educational materials for the family to use until the next visit. Home visitation tailors parent instruction to the particular needs of each father, mother, and child.
Group training,
like home visitation, focuses on preparing parents to teach their children. The parents work in groups, however, rather than individually with a home visitor.
Family support programs
Family support programs, also called family resource programs, provide child-rearing education and extensive assistance to families of young children. These community-based programs are designed to provide the greatest possible opportunity for each child’s growth and development. Family support programs may offer counseling and telephone call-in services that provide information, advice, or crisis assistance. The programs also encourage exchange of information among parents to build informal support networks. Family support programs put parents in contact with agencies and organizations that can assist them in raising their children. The programs match the type and amount of support to each family’s needs. Many states have passed laws to establish these programs in schools, hospitals, and community service agencies.
History
The parent education movement in the United States began during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Many organizations concerned with parenthood were established during this period, including the National Congress of Mothers, which is now the National Parent Teacher Association (National PTA).
The government also became active in helping parents during this period. In 1912, for example, a federal agency called the Children’s Bureau was established. It distributed information on child development and published popular pamphlets, including Infant Care and Your Child from One to Six. The Smith-Lever Act of 1914 set up what is now the Cooperative Extension System, which provides information and education about child and family health.
The 1920’s marked the beginning of scientific study of child development. Many universities established child study centers, where researchers investigated the growth and development of children and applied their findings to educational methods.
Parent education has expanded greatly since 1960, partly because of increased government support. In 1965, for example, a federal project called Head Start was set up to help low-income parents prepare their children for school (see Head Start). Education for Parenthood, another federal project, helped schools develop courses for teenagers.
See also Parent with its list of Related articles.
