Parenting of Parents: Parents Need Parenting Classes!

Anyone who has raised a child knows that it takes a vast skill set, including patience, decision-making skills and even a little bit of creativity, to be successful. Through parenting classes Children from all backgrounds would learn about empathy, critical thinking, responsibility and other important life skills that extend far beyond raising children. Students who must help care for siblings also benefit. According to a parenting class syllabus at Lithonia High School in Georgia, students also study family planning, character development and careers in the child care industry. Parents become concerned and confused when their children struggle in school. Many times children begin school performing well but then as time progresses, their grades begin to fall, and parents are left wondering what happened and how to deal with it effectively. Children struggle academically for numerous reasons, but children can overcome their struggles when parents and teachers work with them.
Boredom in School: Most students experience some level of boredom in the classroom because they lack engagement. This causes them to become inattentive and unmotivated. Brilliant minds need constant stimulation. High achievers become bored in the classroom or lack motivation because they think “outside the box.” Boredom can lead to frustration, bad behavior or depression. Students who have above average proficiency and are not engaged and challenged in the classroom are at risk for becoming underachievers. The next time your little Einstein complains of being bored, break out a brain teaser game and challenge her.
Social Problems: All parents want their children to have friends and succeed academically. Being accepted socially is an important part of a child’s learning experience, but most children struggle socially at some point during school. Children with learning or physical disabilities find it especially difficult to adjust socially, experiencing peer rejection more often than those without a disability do. Relationship problems outside of school can also carry over to the classroom. Parents can be a source of support or stress. While family problems may add to a child’s struggle in the classroom, children of cohesive family dynamics thrive in school, so support your child and let her know you are on the same “team.”School is a time to learn new skills and prepare for the future, yet surprisingly, one of the most difficult and important skills in life that students may need often goes untaught. That skill is rearing children, and while we have to pass a test to drive a car or to work in certain fields, many become parents with little or no preparation. Mandatory parenting classes for students have the potential to provide many benefits to students and society.
Reducing Child Abuse: According to an article in “Time,” many pediatricians support parenting classes as a way to reduce child abuse and neglect. They say some child abuse is the result of a lack of knowledge about child development. The classes teach students about how to respond to normal child behavior that can be frustrating, such as tantrums. Prepare Tomorrow’s Parents says it is important to reach students in their teen years, when their attitudes about children and discipline are still developing.
Other Benefits There is a problem of maturity in today’s generation. They are so much engrossed in their hectic lifestyle that they fail to pay attention to their kids and don’t even understand their priorities.
• Most of the newly made parents are living alone with no elders support and need proper guidance to raise their children.
• Attending such classes helps the parents to understand the behavior of child more properly. The parents can understand the emotional problems a child can face in life.
• Many a time’s children don’t speak about their problems but their actions speak but the parents are not able to catch them. Such classes highlight the children’s behavior under stress.
• Attending such classes allows the parents to interact with each other and discuss the common problems on same platform.
• The behavior of children in this age has changed with exposure to media, Internet and a more open culture. This at times makes it difficult for the parents to deal with the problem even when they have identified it. These classes can provide a solution to such problems.
• There is no one way for raising the children. All the people are different, families are different and one rule cannot be applicable to all the parents.
• There is an in-built responsibility within all the parents who very well understand what is good and what is bad for their children.
• The main problem is not with upbringing, the main problem is of time. Parents don’t need to take out time for classes but they need to take out time for their children.
• No one understands a child better than the parents and that understanding comes right from the time they become mother and father.
• Parenting classes have become just a trend and more of a business. There is no sense in following something blindly.
• If the parents really require help at some point in time, they can approach the professional counselors. In fact, reading a good book on parenting can be quite helpful.
There is no harm if parents join some parenting classes. They will learn some constructive things in class. However, saying that they should be made compulsory is not justified. All the parents don’t need it. Moreover, the main reason behind all problems is lack of time. Parents should spend sufficient quality time with their children so that if they have any problem, they can open up without any hesitation. A certificate or classes alone can never make good parents.
(The author is a teacher at Govt. High School Brakpora Anantnag. Views are his own)
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