Do You Think Parenting Classes Should Be Compulsory?

[shabbychic]

well its basically in the thread title...now i know on a whole, not all parents are bad ones (i mean children dont come with a handbook)

but even if you felt you were a good parent, but were tired of those children who's parents dont actually have a clue or care, and if parenting classes were compulsary it'd mean that they would have to attend them... would you agree to attend?

i would, so your thoughts please

[dilli-theclaw]

No. I know I'm a bad parent so I wouldn't want to go somewhere to be told it as well.

[shabbychic]

Originally Posted by Jefferson T

No. I know I'm a bad parent so I wouldn't want to go somewhere to be told it as well.

i bet ya not

[Mr_love_monkey]

Originally Posted by shabbychic

well its basically in the thread title...now i know on a whole, not all parents are bad ones (i mean children dont come with a handbook)

but even if you felt you were a good parent, but were tired of those children who's parents dont actually have a clue or care, and if parenting classes were compulsary it'd mean that they would have to attend them... would you agree to attend?

i would, so your thoughts please

Just because they went to classes, it wouldn't make them good parents - I went to French lessons, it doesn't make me any good at French.
Good parents will be good parents, bad parents will be bad parents - doesn't matter how much you try and teach them

[shabbychic]

Originally Posted by Mr_love_monkey

Just because they went to classes, it wouldn't make them good parents - I went to French lessons, it doesn't make me any good at French.
Good parents will be good parents, bad parents will be bad parents - doesn't matter how much you try and teach them

i like that

i was awful at french too...and english, and maths etc etc

[punky]

I think it should be, along with the recently introduced cookery lessons.

School teaches you about things but they are assume that all people have to know are purely academic topics, leaving some glaring holes in the curriculum. Teaching kids about simultaneous equations and the capital of Malaysia is OK, but also so are things like child-rearing, home making, fiancial and just general life skills. Its amazing how much you need to know as an adult that you don't get taught at schools.

We had General Studies which was a step in the right direction, but not all that useful unfortunately.

[shabbychic]

Originally Posted by Gavin

I think it should be, along with the recently introduced cookery lessons.

School teaches you about things but they are assume that all people have to know are purely academic topics, leaving some glaring holes in the curriculum. Teaching kids about simultaneous equations is OK, but also so are things like child-rearing, home making, fiancial and just general life skills. Its amazing how much you need to know as an adult that you don't get taught at schools.

We had General Studies which was a step in the right direction, but not all that useful unfortunately.

ahhh good idea

and i think the younger your taught it, the more it sinks in and stays in, like teaching them values and manners at a young age

[TheNorm]

Originally Posted by Mr_love_monkey

J... it doesn't make me any good at French....

Originally Posted by Gavin

... Its amazing how much you need to know as an adult that you don't get taught at schools.

We had General Studies which was a step in the right direction, but not all that useful unfortunately.

I agree, but would take that a step further and make General Studies the practical application of the academic subjects. So, you could have math (balancing a cheque account, working out mortgage or HP repayments, what does a 2.35% pay rise over three years mean to you), english (writing an email complaining about a bad service, filling in a job application form, explaining to a policeman a crime you just witnessed), history (search your family tree, find out about the oldest building in your town, or the oldest local by-law), science (pros and cons of energy saving ideas, how exactly does an internal combustion engine work, why does a pet dog need so many vaccinations), etc., etc.

If subjects were made interesting and practical we'd have a lot less bored kids in schools.

[shabbychic]

Originally Posted by TheNorm

I agree, but would take that a step further and make General Studies the practical application of the academic subjects. So, you could have math (balancing a cheque account, working out mortgage or HP repayments, what does a 2.35% pay rise over three years mean to you), english (writing an email complaining about a bad service, filling in a job application form, explaining to a policeman a crime you just witnessed), history (search your family tree, find out about the oldest building in your town, or the oldest local by-law), science (pros and cons of energy saving ideas, how exactly does an internal combustion engine work, why does a pet dog need so many vaccinations), etc., etc.

If subjects were made interesting and practical we'd have a lot less bored kids in schools.

i think you ought to run for parliment

[TheNorm]

Originally Posted by shabbychic

i think you ought to run for parliment

You've been a Forum member for less than a day and I love you already!

[BBKing]

That's actually a citizenship class, which I think would be a good idea.

Teaching kids about simultaneous equations and the capital of Malaysia is OK

Yes. I'd be delighted if I thought they were still being taught that, but I doubt it somehow. I certainly don't remember being taught the capital cities of the world. Let alone any decent historical background.

Parenting classes - how on earth would two working people with a young child find the time? Take it from me we're both knackered and time starved and some State Supernanny ordering us to class would get the middle finger, frankly.

[shabbychic]

Originally Posted by TheNorm

You've been a Forum member for less than a day and I love you already!

[Taf]

Parenting skills come from your parents... if you're lucky... if they didn't I reckon you shouldn't dare have kids...

[SOSAGES]

Perhaps we can start our own handy and practical guide.

I'm not a parent but ive been a child and survived

1. Don't leave handles of pots/pans cooking on the stove/hob hanging over the edge.
2. Supervise children eating eating cup cakes sometimes you can bite into the foil and its the worst thing ever.

[BBKing]

3. Don't leave boxes of biscuits in view on high shelves unless you want to come back into the room to find a pile of chairs on top of a crying child that was just trying to climb up them to reach the biscuits. Been there, etc...