Facebook debate: Are parenting classes helpful?

Train tomorrow’s global citizens

A toddler throws a flower vase, breaking it into pieces, another scribbles with crayons on the dining room wall and then there is one who bites other people when agitated. In all three cases, the parents continue watching their erring wards with a bemused expression. These are common scenes in today’s homes. Unfortunately, in today’s generation, parents ignore these problems.

It is paramount that the character of children is moulded in the right manner. This is an alarming issue as today’s children will become tomorrow’s global citizens. Thus, good parenting will create exceptional citizens and subsequently a better human society on an international scale. Albeit it is pre-eminent to know your child well, compulsory parenting classes will ensure a greater level of understanding between children and also parents who are not able to pay attention to their children.

By Mr Manav Jha

UAE

Society has rules

If new parents of today do not know how to bring up their children in a decent and moral way, then that has a lot to do with the fact that their parents lacked these characteristics also. Then there is the influence of culture where parents of one nationality believe in strict discipline, as well as study, whilst parents of another nationality believe in very little discipline.

Society has rules and ignorance is no excuse against breaking the rules and being punished accordingly. So really it is up to us to learn as parents whichever way we do it. We shouldn’t be forced and we should set a good example for our children.

From Mr David Woodward

Dubai

Might be worth it

I saw the other day a young man in our clinic kicking his young daughter in front of the entire family as he thought she was unwanted and annoying! I sincerely believe it’s easy to produce children than it is rearing them as true parents. A majority, especially in the developing world, marry and beget children before they even realise their responsibilities as parents! Often marriages just happen before they earn it. Many are troubled and need some sort of positive parenting themselves rather than providing it to a newcomer.

Although I am cynical of anything prefixed as compulsory, I would break my vow for the cause of another poorly parented and often abused child. If hours of compulsory, coercive and assertive parenting could change the life trajectory of one unfortunate child then it would be worth it.

From Dr Subas Pradhan

UAE

Shaping lives, as serious job

Parenting is a job. It’s a serious job. At a minimum we have to commit for a period of 20 years to do this job. If we have to do the job with quality and in a productive way, parenting classes are mandatory. Parents have to attend classes and learn the arts and sciences of parenting.

For our children, we are the first teachers. You cannot replace parents with someone else. The moment we decide to have a child, we have to start the preparation of parenting. Prepare ourselves to guide, care and develop them. Character and values are shaped at home.

From Mr Abdul Saleem

UAE

Classes aren’t necessary

So now we need a course for good parenting? What next? A course on how to breathe the proper way? There is no right or wrong way to parent your child. One draws from their own upbringing, from the environment they live in or maybe even from the lifestyle they have imbibed.

The tendency is to adopt a more relaxed and lenient approach in raising children nowadays. Reasons could be that parents might have felt stifled by restrictions in their growing days and want to spare their children that or a demanding career or a more cosmopolitan setting. Parents are more relaxed these days, which is not always a bad thing. To actually school a parent to raise their child in a particular manner is impractical and unrealistic. Some get it right and some do not.

From Ms Shama Mohammed

Dubai

Sharing feelings, learning things

Becoming new parents can be an important milestone in the lives of young parents, and it often marks a change in their relationship with their family. A lot of new parents felt exhausted, exhilarated and excited. So they have to attend parenting classes for sharing their feelings and learning new things.

From Ms Shirin Mihiraji Witharana

Melbourne, Australia

No harm in help

Parenting is the challenge I have faced so far and every day is a new learning experience. I wish I had the opportunity to attend parenting classes before my daughter was born, at least to be oriented a little about what new parents should expect. Sure everyone learns by experience, but a little knowledge is not a dangerous thing when it comes to parenting.

From Ms Soumiya Hussain

UAE

Anticipating future behaviour

I’m in full support of compulsory parenting. Parenting in itself is a beautiful experience. Bringing up children to the best of your ability is what every parent strives for. To be effective parents, one needs advice from baby-talk to teething to tantrums.

Though parenting style may differ from parent to parent and family to family, it can be quite an overwhelming experience for younger parents or the first time parents as they themselves are clueless primarily because of the shrinking social fabric, economic difficulties, ambitious professional plans, lack of knowledge about child development, effective parenting skills and that’s when parents fail in their parental roles or are involved in cases of abuse or neglect.

Children learn by the actions of their parents, older siblings, grandparents and teachers. What they learn, they will take with them the rest of their lives. When they become parents, they tend to do what their parents did with them. We cannot put all the blame on the children. A lot of it rests with the parents.

Compulsory parenting classes could be a means to ensure the prosperity of its future generations by raising the standard of parenting they receive. The idea is to make sure that it’s not just anti-social behaviour today that we take care of, but preventing the next generation of people growing up with signs of anti-social behaviour in the future.

From Ms Shivani Singh

Dubai

No child is alike

I do not recommend compulsory parenting classes. Not because it is invading their privacy, but because these classes do not add any real value. The opinions and beliefs formed by these factors are generally so rigid that they cannot be changed significantly by any training sessions.

Apart from this, every child has his own identity and psyche. Every child perceives the surrounding conditions in a different manner, which is unique to him. The same surrounding conditions used by two children affect them in two different ways.

Lastly, there are some things in life that cannot and need not be trained. These are like breathing, eating and sleeping. No one needs to train anyone on them. Similarly, the way in which children are brought up is a reflection of a person’s personality and his or her past experiences. Training programs rarely help in these matters.

From Mr Suhas Inamdar

UAE

Creates a well-rounded family

There are many things that new expectant parents are unaware of. There are many drastic changes in a couple’s life and for which they should be prepared. Parenting classes are one of the best ways to know about a lot of details and insights about parenthood. It is basically a source of information. People who have experience share their expertise with one another. Things that hold great importance, which has a threat of being neglected is highlighted in parenting class.

From mother’s health to father’s emotions, basic exercise for women, to tips for a better family life is a part of parenting classes. The essence of such classes is how to raise a brain, how to raise a free-thinker, how to raise a human, how to engrave moral and ethical values in a tiny being. Every child is unique and different and not everyone knows how to handle a fragile brain.

From Mr Muntazir Haider

UAE

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