The importance of Parent Education.

 By: Soraya Fernandez

The Joy of Learning

School Director

 

The Joy of Learning is a state of the art Pre-School serving children from the age of one year (walking) to Pre – K 4.  Inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy which aims at constructing a culture of childhood wherein the image of the child is one of intelligence and competency.  A culture that also promotes their rights to care, education and learning based on the value of social interaction.   A culture which includes with equal importance the triad of children, parents and teachers.  

It is with this commitment  to foster and maintain connections between parents, children and school that The Joy of Learning is passionately dedicated to Parent Education:  What is Important to know when we become parents?

“The isolation of mothers in their homes and of teachers in their classrooms, with little

opportunity for supportive consultation or sharing with peers may be one of the major

problems in child care and education” – Earl Schaefer 

Parental education should begin the moment we decide to have a child, as is it then that all individuals involved start the journey of self-discovery, and begin to become more aware of their relationships to each other. A happy relationship is the best gift parents can give to their children. Potential parents should also know about goals and values, family planning, health and nutrition, and medical care among other resources. Adults need a different kind of education as they become expectant parents. They need to know about:

-Prenatal health

-Development of fetus

-Labor and delivery

-Selecting the physicians that will be in charge of managing the health of the expectant mother and the baby

-Infant care techniques

-Child development fundamentals

-How to manage challenging behaviors

-Socio-emotional development of children

-Where to ask for help

Today we can find reliable resources that people can have access to and use the information to be the best parents they can be. There are many books, trainings, and web sites that can provide good advice to help ease the difficult task of parenthood; to make it an enjoyable and rewarding experience for the individuals involved. Some schools and community centers offer parenting trainings at no cost to the parents. The help of qualified professionals will give support in challenging stages of development so that parents are able to understand what children at young age are like; as well as their needs, patterns of behavior, and their physical and social development.

Parenting trainings will also offer the opportunity to share parental concerns with other adults who are living the same experiences. By networking together parents may find answers to their questions and doubts. Parenting education should begin when you decide to conceive a child, and every child should have a place in society where love, care and an environment conducive to learning and growth are guaranteed. Parenthood is based in relationships of trust and respect. Understanding and getting to know your child deeply will help set the foundations of your child’s future adult life.

The two most important things you can do for your children are:

1- Love your child, I believe we all love our children dearly, but they need to know it. Spend quality time with your child, set a time without interruption to play with him/her, share a special moment like reading a book, cooking a special dish to share with the family, play a game that you both like.

2-Listen, pay attention to what they need and to what is important to them. Conversation is one of the best ways to spend quality time with your child; it is a way to get to know them better and to connect with what is interesting to them.

And remember, our children will eventually leave our side and they need to be prepared for life, we are the most important educator in their lives and it is our responsibility to do it the best we can. We owe it to them and to society; we owe it to their future. 

Web sites for Parenting Resources: 

National Association for the Education of Young Children:  www.naeyc.org

American Academy of Pediatrics: www.aap.org

National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families:  www.zerotothree.org                                                      

Psychology Today:  www.psychologytoday.com