Should New Parents attend Parenting Course?

You have touched a very serious and important topic. I agree with you hundred percent that there should be parenting course. Many of us are not aware how to bring up infants and very yound kids. We always struggel on this front, till we are guided by our elders. We faced many problems, when we were bringing up our kids and we just sometimes used to get nevous and tense, when the kids would fell ill. Yours is the great idea and it must be implemented by all. Also, there should be a course regarding, how to cope with marriage or what a marriage means to couple, I find many are not aware what marriage brings to their life and what they are supposed to do, after marriage.

This sort of issue always causes me some angst. On the one hand, it's impossible not to agree that parenting skills are awful, and the results are horrific for the child, for everyone he/she comes into close contact with for the rest of their lives, and for society itself as a result. On the other hand, I have some sympathy for the stance that it is not up to society in general to dictate to individuals over what they do in their private lives, although I only sympathise when we're not talking about an issue that negatively affects the rest of the society. This issue clearly does. I think, in the final analysis that this is one of those times when the individuals' rights must take second place to the rights of the child and society. How we do it, though, is another thorny problem. But perhaps it is only thorny because, at least in the West, we have such a long tradition of non-interference, and if we can get over that, then it can be worked out. Lash

I say no, new parents should not take parenting classes. We do not need the government telling us how to raise our kids or what to believe. If parnets teach their child to be good Christians, then they have done their job.

I think that would probably be a very good idea. I think it would help alot of new parents.

It's so funny and ironic in a way, but you really hit on something about how "rich" kids are raised. So many times the affluent will bestow all the material goodies a kid could possibly want, yet most rich kids are usually raised by nannies and never have any real interaction with their own parents, especially the mother. I saw some Youtube videos of rich parents giving their daughters a brand new car for their birthdays..one girl got upset and annoyed and started crying since the car was red color and not her favorite blue...like sheesh But yes I think parents should take parenting classes...so much has changed for instance in how the world is and kids learn things a lot faster and earlier than say when we were kids.

it couldn't hurt a thing. children have a hard time growing up if not for reason there's another. parening is a hard job. i always wanted the best for my kids but when you raise them by yourself it's hard. they had what they needed & a whole lot of love. wish every child in the world could at least have that.

i do agree with you.it does hurt the mothers to be or parents to attend parenting course.they are not forcing their beliefs upon you.when i was pregnant,i was confused by various ideas given by various elders.i used to listen to everyone of them but would follow my own heart(i couldnt attend a parentingg class,due to various reasons.)

I beleive they do have some kind of class for parenting. BUt then No one really has been trained to do it. The rich think giving every thing to a kids is all it takes and they are selfish where the poor people only really have love to give . the rich need to take time for there kids no matter how busy they are!

IT is always easy to say, hey, attend a course and you will be able to learn how to do it. From pregnancy to pre-natal care to post-natal care. And now there are also courses for parenting as well. But it is alway easier said than done. How do you teach a person to love a child? How do you teach a person to feel compassion for a child? How do you teach a person to understand the different cries, whimpers and groans of the child? There are so many aspects of parenting that can only be learn through experience. Yes, it is a good idea to get parents to attend a course on parenting. But who is to say that one method of teaching is better than another? Some children are born naturally good. They never defy their parents. They do well in school and later on, become successful in life. But there are also kids that require extra care so that they do not wander into the wrong path. There is no way a course is going to prepare any parent for any of those experiences.

Yes, I think so. When I was pregnant, I needed to attend such kind of courses by the hospital. I liked to attend to it as I had no idea about how to take care of a child. There were many things that I should pay attention to, such as how to bathe for a baby, how to feed the baby etc. The courses were quite useful for me. It can avoid some mistakes because new parents have no more experience to babies. I love China

Dear friend, I hope it would be better if government make it compulsory and give leave with pay for attending this. Moreover those attending would also given an incentive or stipend, so there would be interest in parent side too. I hope that this would help both parents and child.

I really believe in learning everything you can about a situation, especially if it's something new. It certianly can't hurt.

yes why not. It will surely help all new parents. Parenting is not just feeding our children and let them grow and get old.And many experienced author of Parenting seminars and courses really will give some light to us beginners. And the more we know the real meaning of parenting the more we understand it.happy parenting.

They won't let you adopt a child unless and until you pass a rigorous background check along with a financial profile. You must prove that you can provide a stable home for the child and I believe that you have to take parenting classes, too. But anyone who is fertile can have a baby whether they would make good parents or not.

I do not know if there are courses for new parents, if there are, I am not sure whether they are good or not. I am just thinking, if you are really a caring parent, you will go and read up books and study how to be a good parent, how to take care of your babies and kids. You do not need someone to force you doing this. Even there are courses for new parents, if the parents are not willing to learn, they may not get anything from the courses, or it will not benefit the kids too. We can always study kids education to learn how to educate and bring up our kids.

Hi Zandi, Parenting is a difficult job which needs skills to raise the children successfully. Parents are the first teachers and home is the first institution they learn primary lesson from there only. It indicates the importance of good parenting. I agree with your points, some parents are not able to provide all the demands of their kids but they are successful by providing sufficient love and care for their kids and some are providing everything they wanted but forget to provide the love and care which has an important role in the life of kids. Earlier there was much facilities to the children by learn from the nature and kids are not this much dependable to parents. In my childhood, my mother never got time to attend her kids properly. Being an elder daughter in law in a joint family she had much work and we did everything by ourselves. But in the later stage it helps us very much by way of decision making and never depends on others. Things are changed much and currently kids are getting over care and it spoils their life in certain extent. In the present situation it is high time to think about a course for parents. I do appreciate you to post such a valuable discussion in the current situation.

i think it is a good idea. even though i had alot of experience taking care of children i was never a parent before so i took parenting classes that focused on behavioural issue. it was really a big help to me. i also took a course on caring for an infant including bathing etc before i had my son. it is the biggest job in the world and the biggest responsiblity and people do need to learn the skills required to do it right.

I have heard of this idea before and I think it is very good. Children don't come with a handbook when they are born and a lot of times parents have to wing it. It has to be especially hard for a single parent. Educating new parents is a very wise idea for wealthy people and people that do not have much money.

Probably wouldn't be a bad idea, from what I've seen of people calling themselves parents lately, lol.

Yes, I think so, if this kind of course is offered. Me, since this kind of course is not offered in the Philippines, I just did some reading.