Peer Review for Amanda Rosemary
precisev5
1.1.docxArgument 2
Fear of being a parent will inevitably happen to almost all of us. Every couple experiencing pregnancy is experiencing the new role of ‘parent’, and are wondering how exactly they should do it. I believe that if we opened up classes and promoted education for parents individuals will be more comfortable and more prepared for parenting. Opening classes would be beneficial because it helps long term child and parent relationships, it would help both men and women learn how to move through pregnancy during/before/after, and parenting classes could help prepare us for the hard things our children will go through.
Opening up classes for parenting will help parent’s have a better relationship with their child. (Beth Mary Mann; Peggy T. Pearl; Pamela D. 2004) A study was conducted to see if educating parents actually had an impact on the parent’s relationship with their child. In the study, the testers had parents come and be educated in basic parenting skills and other things that could help raise a child. Over time, the testers began to notice that children of the parents were beginning to have positive differences in their behavior. The parents and children’s relationship had been improving because the parents weren’t as stressed. The key with the classes is that they will be a huge stress reliever. Teaching parents how to parent will make them in a better mood and more patient and knowledgeable when it comes to taking care of their child. Another thing that would help parent and child relationships is educating the parents on pediatric and psychological care. (Roberta Mcabee. 1977) Many people don’t know a lot about how to find a good doctor, what signs to look for if your baby is sick, what your insurance can cover with medical expenses...etc. Many people also don’t know a lot about child psychology and how the brain works. If we opened classes for individuals to teach them these kinds of fundamentals on parenting, it could really help them.
Dealing with pregnancy is always terrifying to parents. You don’t only have during pregnancy, but also before and after. Educating parents about how to cope with all of the physical and emotional symptoms could immensely help the parent’s health. Many women suffer from postpartum depression (depression after pregnancy), and they should have a professional educator to help them learn and understand postpartum depression. (Sharron Leung; David G. Arthur; Ian Martinson. August 2005) Having a professional educator to come into classes and educate women who are close to giving birth could be a huge positive impact. Many women experience the depression and they aren’t quite sure where it comes from and how to handle it. Having someone there to professionally educate you on why your brain and body change after pregnancy, and how to cope with it could improve women’s lives. One aspect of pregnancy we should consider is women in prisons. If anyone needs parenting classes, it’s going to be them. Many people aren’t close to their child while they’re in prison, or they’re even pregnant in prison. Opening up education classes about parenting in prisons will greatly increase the chance of an individual having a positive relationship with their child. (Joy Jarvis; Sally Graham; Penny Hamilton; Dena Tyler. 03 2004).
We will never be prepared what our children go through. Whether it be a scrape on the knee, a concussion, or cancer. We need to open up education classes for parents that educate them about how to prepare for these kind of events. One subject we need to educate parents about is youth suicide. (S Maine; R. Shute; G. Martin. 2001. ) In my life, I have gone through 3 people relatively close to me commit suicide, as well as dealing with my own depression. I can say that from my personal experience, I wish my parents knew more on what to do in those kinds of situations. I was very alone and didn’t really have anyone to talk to. I really believe that if we this subject implemented into parenting classes then it would greatly help the child. Also, educating parents about how to cope if your own child commits suicide. I saw in my experience that the women of deceased daughters got together to talk about it and help each other cope. Another event that could happen is chronic illness. Educational support classes on how to cope with a chronic illness would be greatly beneficial to both the child and the parent. (Debra A. Major. February 2003) Any illness is hard to go through, especially if it’s chronic. All of these experiences can be so traumatic and hard. Providing a family with a class on how to better cope with these things could be helpful. It could also form a sort of support group with it being a class.
Parenting classes would have so many benefits. Parents come from everywhere, all races, all ages, all places, all kinds of people. There are so many people we can help educate if we raised awareness and put efforts into an education system. Parenting classes would be so beneficial because it helps with child and parent growth, it would help couples go through all stages of pregnancy, and classes could help prepare parents for traumatic events their child may go through. Parenting is one thing that school never prepared you for, so why don’t we add in some new education?
1) Beth Lockhart. 1982. “When couples adopt they too need parenting classes.” The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing. Vol 7(2), pp116-118.
2) Roberta Mcabee. 1977. “Rural parenting classes: Beginning to meet the need.” The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing. Vol 2(5), pp316-319
3) Jocelyn M. Pollock. 14 March 2003. “Parenting in Women’s Prisons”. Women and Criminal Justice. Vol 7, pp131-154
4) Sharron Leung; David G. Arthur; Ian Martinson. August 2005. “Stress in women with postpartum despression: a phenomenological study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, Vol.51(4), pp.353-360.
5) Beth Mary Mann; Peggy T. Pearl; Pamela D. 2004. “Effects of parent education on knowledge and attitudes.” Journal of adolescence. Vol 39(154), pp 355-360.
6) Janis M. Cambell. 01 December 1992. “Parenting classes: Focus on discipline.” Journal of Community Health Nursing. Vol 9(4), pp197-208.
7) Joy Jarvis; Sally Graham; Penny Hamilton; Dena Tyler. 03 2004. “The Role of Parenting Classes for Young Fathers in Prison: A Case Study.” Probation Journal. Vol51(1), pp.21-33
8) S Maine; R. Shute; G. Martin. 2001. “Educating parents about youth suicide: knowledge, response to suicidal statements, attitudes, and intention to help. Suicide&life-threatening behavior. Vol.31(3), pp. 320-32
9) Debra A. Major. February 2003. “Utilizing role theory to help employed parents cope with children’s chronic illness.” Health education research. Vol.18(1), 99.45-57.
10) Estelle Weinstein; Efrem Rosen. 1994. “Decreasing sex bias through education for parenthood or prevention of adolescent pregnancy: a developmental model with integrative strategies. Adolescence, Fall. Vol. 29(115), p.723(10)
