Learning to Parent
When a baby kitten is born, the mama cat's natural instinct is to immediately bathe and feed the new babe. In the world of animals, instinct dictates exactly what nature requires, giving offspring a normal start in life. However, the same cannot be said for the human species. Many parents see a new baby and panic. The first question: "What have we gotten ourselves into?" Unlike mammals in the wild kingdom, Mum and Dad are not born with the knowledge to raise a child, and babies are not born with a set of instructions. Therefore, most parents can use a little help on occasion. Before succumbing to frustration, pulling hair out in clumps, or making a regretful choice, seek help in sage advice, parenting materials, counseling or parenting classes.
Having a baby may be a new experience for the
Having a baby may be a new experience for the
parents, but the world is full of people who have successfully survived the experience and raised wonderful adults. Mums and Dads are usually a good place to begin seeking information. Despite being grandparents now, most parents remember raising children like it was yesterday. Plus, grandparents generally have the best interests of the grandchild at heart. In the event parents are unavailable, or not exactly good role models, sage advice is available from neighbors, church family, coworkers, and friends who are experienced parents with similar values. New parents are not alone. Many people are willing to help, if a need is made known.
Help is also available in parenting publications. Walk in any book store, visit any magazine rack, or browse the internet, and most new parents will find a plethora of information from pregnancy to encouraging a grown child to leave home and seek independence. The question is: How do you find the right answer, and not an individual's unlearned opinion. A good source for seeking information is the child's pediatrician. Doctor's usually have a variety of parenting magazines to peruse while waiting for an appointment. If the magazine appears to have sound advice, parents may want to invest in the next issue. In addition, a good pediatrician will probably have suggestions for good parenting books. Also, especially for medical questions, many parents can find information on the Internet. For example, www.webmd.com is an excellent source for common question like what to do for a high temperature; when should a child be taken to the emergency room; how can you tell if an injury is sprain or broken?
Other parenting sources are also available on the web, but anyone can post information, even if the person knows absolutely nothing, so be selective. A good rule of thumb is finding sites with a list of informational resources at the end of the article. Also, .edu, .org, or .gov sites are generally trustworthy sites. The information provided must be learned, well researched, and scholarly to qualify for publication. Nevertheless, parents are still responsible for weeding through the information to find what is best for a child, and the values taught within the home.
When the values taught within the home seem to be going amuck, parents should consider seeking the advice of a qualified counselor. For example, with the rising divorce rate and an increase in dysfunctional families, many children suffer the consequences of a broken home. The emotional scars and subsequent behavioral issues are often more than parents can cope with alone. Instead of being stoic and hoping the problem will eventually dissolve, parents can find help from people trained to deal with children and families. Shame is not is asking for help; shame is letting pride stand in the way of doing what is best for a child.
In some cases, counselors may suggest parenting classes. Classes usually meet once or twice a week for a given period of time. Parents will not only gain valuable information to be better mums and dads, they also have the benefit of talking to parents who may be going through similar experiences. If parenting classes are not available in the local community, online parenting classes are also available.
Learning to be a parent is a day-by-day experience. No one parent will have all the answers, but help is available, if needed. Seasoned parents can be an excellent source of information, whether they are family or friends. Another good suggestion is reading parenting books and magazines dealing with the current situation. If the situation seems beyond control, counselors and parenting classes are available, to provide support and valuable information. No parent is a perfect parent. However, learning to be the best parent possible will generally result in raising wonderful adults who will pass on the legacy to their children.
Do you want to use this article? Well you can as long as you do not edit or delete the resource box. Click Here to download.
Help is also available in parenting publications. Walk in any book store, visit any magazine rack, or browse the internet, and most new parents will find a plethora of information from pregnancy to encouraging a grown child to leave home and seek independence. The question is: How do you find the right answer, and not an individual's unlearned opinion. A good source for seeking information is the child's pediatrician. Doctor's usually have a variety of parenting magazines to peruse while waiting for an appointment. If the magazine appears to have sound advice, parents may want to invest in the next issue. In addition, a good pediatrician will probably have suggestions for good parenting books. Also, especially for medical questions, many parents can find information on the Internet. For example, www.webmd.com is an excellent source for common question like what to do for a high temperature; when should a child be taken to the emergency room; how can you tell if an injury is sprain or broken?
Other parenting sources are also available on the web, but anyone can post information, even if the person knows absolutely nothing, so be selective. A good rule of thumb is finding sites with a list of informational resources at the end of the article. Also, .edu, .org, or .gov sites are generally trustworthy sites. The information provided must be learned, well researched, and scholarly to qualify for publication. Nevertheless, parents are still responsible for weeding through the information to find what is best for a child, and the values taught within the home.
When the values taught within the home seem to be going amuck, parents should consider seeking the advice of a qualified counselor. For example, with the rising divorce rate and an increase in dysfunctional families, many children suffer the consequences of a broken home. The emotional scars and subsequent behavioral issues are often more than parents can cope with alone. Instead of being stoic and hoping the problem will eventually dissolve, parents can find help from people trained to deal with children and families. Shame is not is asking for help; shame is letting pride stand in the way of doing what is best for a child.
In some cases, counselors may suggest parenting classes. Classes usually meet once or twice a week for a given period of time. Parents will not only gain valuable information to be better mums and dads, they also have the benefit of talking to parents who may be going through similar experiences. If parenting classes are not available in the local community, online parenting classes are also available.
Learning to be a parent is a day-by-day experience. No one parent will have all the answers, but help is available, if needed. Seasoned parents can be an excellent source of information, whether they are family or friends. Another good suggestion is reading parenting books and magazines dealing with the current situation. If the situation seems beyond control, counselors and parenting classes are available, to provide support and valuable information. No parent is a perfect parent. However, learning to be the best parent possible will generally result in raising wonderful adults who will pass on the legacy to their children.
Do you want to use this article? Well you can as long as you do not edit or delete the resource box. Click Here to download.
