PARENTING EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS--
IT'S NOT JUST FOR PREGNANT
AND PARENTING TEENS!
by Andrea Schuver
reprinted from News & Views; newsletter
of Florida
on Adolescent
Pregnancy, Parenting & Prevention;
Winter 1999
Andrea Schuver is
Executive Director of Prepare Tomorrows Parents.
Don't you agree it is tragic that the toughest, most complicated job in the
world comes with no training?
We all recognize our schools' importance in
providing teen mothers with knowledge and skills for good parenting. But far
more can be accomplished toward more nurturing, safe and mentally healthy
families and communities by offering parenting education for ALL students.
Following recommendations of Starting
Points, Zero to Three and many diverse experts, The Parenting Project, a Florida-based
national non-profit network, promotes the integration of parenting and
relationship skills education into all K-12 curricula and youth programs when
primary prevention is most effective -- while attitudes, beliefs and life
expectations are in formation.
Teen Pregnancy
Through parenting education, girls and boys comprehend that bearing and
caring for a child are among life's most critical and challenging
responsibilities, benefiting from emotional maturity, stable relationships and
financial security. By teaching the rigors of good parenting, and by building
critical thinking and problem-solving skills, parenting education enables young
people to make informed life decisions, including postponing childbearing until
they are ready to put their learning into practice. Those who do become teen
parents have vital information and skills to apply immediately, such as:
avoiding prenatal alcohol; sensitive newborn care; "shaken baby"
syndrome; and the importance of fathering.
Cycles of Violence
Insufficient knowledge of child development, health and positive discipline
lead to unrealistic expectations clearly linked to abuse and neglect. Harsh
childhood treatment and lack of nurturing and stability are great predictors
for violence, including abuse and neglect of one's own children. Intervention
and education after problems are detected come far too late for maximum benefit
and may be unable to reverse harm already done. Parenting education for young people,
regardless of their personal upbringing, can develop empathy, non-violent
communication and relationship skills, and knowledge of positive parenting
techniques to interrupt these intergenerational cycles.
Early and Consistent Sensitive Care
We are now well aware of the brain's extraordinary
malleability and need for optimal cognitive and physical stimulation during the
earliest years. Less understood is the importance of consistent, responsive
parenting in that critical period, to establish enduring emotional capacity for
the empathy, self-esteem and motivation, persistence, positive relationships
and resiliency that greatly determine success in later life. Early abuse and
neglect can permanently damage neurological development, impairing cognition,
impulse control, and learning from the consequences of one's own behaviors.
Less obvious poor parenting is implicated in depression, addictions, teen
pregnancy and delinquency. Our schools must participate in making this vital
information part of everyone's knowledge.
With opponents complaining of "crowded
curricula" and the need for going "back to the basics," it's
important to note that K-12 parenting education yields benefits long before
parenthood. New skills are used immediately with classmates, latchkey siblings,
parents, etc. Through modeling and instruction, teachers develop more caring,
cooperative learning environments that reduce discipline problems and foster
social and emotional health critical to student success.
Parenting education need not require much
time or funding. A variety of flexible, teacher-friendly, inexpensive programs
are available. Their high-interest, motivating activities may be integrated
into math, literature, science, social studies, etc., capitalizing on students'
universal attraction to babies and "real-life" learning. Some center
on monthly visits from a baby and parent. Older students may care for an infant
simulator 24 hours a day. Key topics may be already included in or added to
courses that may be coordinated thematically. A new
Schools and youth programs routinely
provide career planning. Why not also prepare young people for the vital job nearly
all of them will eventually have -- parenting?
For more comprehensive information,
including programs and learning materials, visit www.preparetomorrowsparents.org, email info@parentingproject.org or call 1-888-PARENTS.
