Should Parenting Education Be Mandatory?

Parenting classes are usually only required for parents who are going through court proceedings. The courts may be involved due to situations like adoption, child abuse charges, or divorce. This has led to parenting classes being seen as requirement for only parents going through a legal process instead of a benefit to all parents.

When parents have their baby, they may receive some basic information about feeding and care of the baby from their pediatrician or birthing hospital. This is a wonderful start in learning how to handle various situations with their baby. Parents are then on their own to pursue other parenting help as needed.

This approach is like giving a 16-year-old car keys without any training and only requiring driving classes after an accident or run in with the police. Why isn’t this the way things work? Because it’s too risky for the teen and others! Instead, teens aren’t allowed to drive until they can pass a driver’s test.

Parenting is significantly more difficult than driving a car. And yet as a society, we expect parents to figure it out without any required classes or tests.

Being Prepared Helps Parents

Knowing what to expect at each age helps parents guide their children as they grow up. While each child is unique, there are common stages all children go through. There are also common challenges that crop up at various ages.

For example, toddlers will throw food off their highchairs, they are likely to bite, and they will have tantrums. Parenting education gives parents a plan for how to respond to these types of situations. Responding in a calm, confident manner is easier when parents have learned approaches for handling these situations.

Parents of teens will face different challenges. There are new things for parents to learn as their children grow up. Parenting classes based on the ages of the kids can help parents through each stage.

Priceless Parenting offers parenting classes for ages 0 to 5, 6 to 12 and 13 to 18. Parents who’ve taken these classes often say they wish they had the information earlier. These are a few of the comments from parents who completed a class:

"I had to take this course for my adoption process. I also have a young son already and wish I had received this information about a year ago!" - Emma Enneking Batesville, IN

"This was an eye-opening series for dealing with teenagers. The lessons draw from a myriad of experts' guidelines and recommendations. My wife and I enjoyed taking the course together and look forward to continuing to apply the concepts we learned with our teenagers." - Brad and Shu Mei Iverson, Syracuse, UT

"As a mom of 4, I didn't think I needed to take this class, and after completing it I am so thankful and appreciative for what I've learned. I guess I had gotten so used to the way things were that I forgot the simplest of things. Thank you for giving me insight on some of the little things that really do matter." - Melissa Walther, Eatonville, WA

"I'm in awe of how well the course is assembled. It was far above my expectations and learned more than I ever realized I would as a parent of 5 kids and been parenting for many years. I never imagined a simple course like this could teach me how wrong my approach to parenting using discipline and anger or frustration has been. It has been a long time since I have laughed and cried at what I have done wrong or right as a parent. I realize a whole new world of positive parenting and guiding my children with options and empathy using patience and love for my children as well as myself." - John Bramlett, Enumclaw, WA

Parenting classes teach essential parenting skills. Knowing how to effectively provide guidance, discipline, and support makes parenting easier. Stronger parenting skills increase the likelihood children grow to their full potential.

Five Reasons Better Prepared Parents Helps Society

Here are five reasons why mandatory parenting classes should be the norm.

1. Improved child outcomes: Parenting classes provide important information on child development and safety. These classes provide an in-depth look into the physical, mental, and emotional development of a child, as well as safety tips and guidelines to prevent accidents and injuries.

2. Stronger families: Parenting education gives parents the tools they need to handle daily challenges. Children thrive when their parents know how to lovingly meet their changing needs. Parenting classes also help parents develop a common approach to responding to their kids.

3. Prevention of child abuse: Parenting classes teach parents how to properly discipline their children without hitting or yelling. Setting boundaries and explaining expectations are critical skills for all parents.

4. Better equipped parents: Parenting classes help parents better understand their child’s needs. From nutrition to emotional support, parenting classes provide essential information on how to properly meet the needs of a child and ensure their overall health and well-being.

5. Decreased costs to society: By improving child outcomes and reducing instances of child abuse and neglect, mandatory parenting education can decrease costs to society. It is in the best interest of everyone to keep families together whenever possible. Supporting parents is less expensive than putting children in foster care.

Parents love their children. Parenting education gives parents the knowledge and skills to do their best parenting. All parents deserve to learn how to create a warm, loving home where their children can blossom.