18 Part 1 Decisions About Parenting
In the past, young women were raised to
be mothers. They developed skills by caring
for younger family members. When they
became mothers, their mothers and other
women in the family helped them with child
rearing. Parenting, therefore, was learned
through years of experience and tradition.
Times have changed. Today’s parents
have fewer child-care experiences before
their first child. Grandmothers and older
family members are often employed outside
the home. Others may live too far away to
help new parents. Yet, there has never been
a better time in history to be an informed
parent. Reliable information on parenting
can be found everywhere—in bookstores, on
Web sites, at newsstands, in libraries, and on
television programs.
Still, most adults are not prepared
for parenting. Why not? Many adults are
overwhelmed by the wealth of information
available to parents. Busy adults may have
little time to read many materials or the
knowledge to choose the best. They may feel
even less confident about parenting.
Without a doubt, parenting is complex.
Some basic knowledge can take you a long
way toward becoming a competent parent,
1-4. Experiences with children are helpful,
too. The best experiences are working with
children in child development labs, in child
care programs staffed with experienced
teachers, or from any competent parent or
person who has had rich experiences with
children. They can help you learn what to
expect and how to respond as children grow
and develop.
1-3 Flexibility in your daily routine allows you time
to share special moments with your child.
1-4 Basic knowledge about parenting can help
make you a competent parent.
What Parents Need
to Know
The general concepts and methods of effective
parenting.
How these concepts and methods apply to
children’s developmental stages.
Common problems children face at each stage
and how these problems might be worked out.
How parents will likely react to children’s
developmental stages.
How parents and their children can adapt to
stressful events and crises.
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