Teenage Parenting Classes

According to the Guttmacher Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing sexual and reproductive health, every year, about 750,000 women in the United States between the ages of 15 and 19 become pregnant (See Resources). For many of these teens, enrolling in teenage parenting classes can mean the difference between being prepared and equipped to handle parenthood, or not.

Significance

Children of teen parents are at a higher risk to encounter health problems, have developmental delays and become victims of child abuse. Teenage parenting classes give teens the basic knowledge, skills and support that they need to improve their child's chances of being physically and developmentally healthy. From dealing with a colicky baby to caring for a crying child, parenting classes give teens effective strategies for parenting during moments when child abuse is likely to occur (See Resources).

Function

From newborn baby care to managing toddler temper tantrums, teenage parenting classes give young parents the tools they need to help them be successful. Instructors provide education on child development, behavior modification, health and safety. They also provide resources for teen parents that include mentoring, financial assistance and counseling.

Benefits

When parents are equipped with the knowledge, tools and skills that they need to parent effectively, their children will be better cared for. Many teenage parents are unaware of how to take care of a child but when given the proper education, they can put their knowledge into action and become better role models, caregivers and disciplinarians to their children. Parents who learn how to properly bathe a baby, for example, are less likely to injure their baby with scolding water or to leave them unattended, which is a common cause of bathtub drowning.

Considerations

Teen parents are often in financial hardship and may not be able to afford to pay for parenting classes. Unable to complete their high school education because they are caring for their child, teen moms aren't usually able to earn enough to support their family, even if they can secure free childcare. Many teen moms also have trouble getting child support from the baby's dad and rely on government services like food stamps to help them get by (See Resources). These factors make paying for parenting classes nearly impossible for many teens.

Prevention/Solution

Encouraging abstinence is the only way fool proof way to prevent teens from becoming parents. But since many families and school systems promote safe sex and some teens are going to have sex regardless of what they are taught, the risk for teen pregnancy still exists. If teens were required, by law, to enroll in teenage parenting classes, they would become aware of the resources, support and information that is available to them and would learn skills and strategies that could help them to become better parents.

Resources

• Statistics on Teenage Pregnancy
• Teen Parent Facts and Figures
• Teen Parent Statistics