Parents have long wanted information on child rearing, but the recent surge in requests for formal parenting education is causing a boom for the profession. This boom presents many questions, one of which concerns the design of parenting education. Could the following factors be related to participation and high rates of dropping out by parents?

• the design of the program
• when and where parenting programs are held
• how parents are taught
• the content that is offered
• comfort within a learning group

Parent Study Description

To address concerns of parents and parent educators, the National Network for Family Resiliency collected survey data asking parents what topics they most want and what topics they want least. The non-random sample included 637 parents age 16-65 years of age from four states (North Carolina, Delaware, Texas, and Ohio). Within the sample, 39% were Euro-American, 38% were African American, and 10% were Hispanic with the remaining parents Native American or multi-racial.

Study Results

Parents were asked, "How do you want to receive parenting facts?" A Likert-scale was used with answers ranging from 1 to 4 (4 being Amost liked). There was a pretty close preference for receiving facts in a group with another parent leading (57%), receiving facts in a group with a trained leader (56%), and receiving facts one-on-one with another parent (54%). There was less of a preference for self-study (46%) and even less enthusiasm for no assistance (28%). It would appear that of the top three choices (in a group with another parent leading, in a group with a trained leader, or one-on-one with another parent) no one delivery mode stood out as highly preferred. Instead, it appears that many parents may not prefer a single delivery mode but prefer a few over others (i.e., groups and one-on-one with another parent over either self-study or no assistance).

Parents were asked, what would you most like to teach you about parenting? A Likert-scale was used with answers ranging from 1 to 4 (4 being most liked). A vast majority indicated a member of the family (78%) or someone I know and trust (69%). There was also a sizable preference for receiving information from another parent (58%) or a trained parent educator (57%). Only 2% indicated a preference someone other than the groups identified above.

Implications for Practice

The majority of parents prefer to learn in small groups ranging from one-to-one to groups with up to 10 people (See Parent Education Groups: What Works?). There doesn't seem to be an exclusive preference for one group method over another. There is however, a preference for receiving information someway other than self-studies or on one's own with no assistance. Parents expressed a high preference for receiving information from a family member or someone they know and trust. Practitioners might consider providing small group sessions led by a parent educator or one-on-one mentoring sessions. Church leaders or counseling personnel might be trained to teach parenting education to increase the numbers of educators that already have the trust of members in their communities.

Additional Considerations:

• Work with family members and other trusted individuals such as group leaders, or counselors to provide high-quality, user-friendly information that can be shared with parents.
• Develop mentoring programs where other parents or people within the community who may already be known to parents can be taught to provide parenting information.
• Consider having other parents co-present or attend sessions to provide participants with peer experiences and modeling.
• Consider providing technical support for parent support groups led by other parents.

Karen DeBord, PhD
Associate Professor
and State Specialist, Child Development
North Carolina Cooperative Extension
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7605
(919) 515-9147 (Voice)
(919) 515-2786 (Fax)
Karen_DeBord@NCSU.EDU

Jacqueline J. Kirby, M.S.
Extension Associate, Family Life
Ohio State University Extension
The Ohio State University,
Columbus, OH 43210-1295
(614) 688-3486 (Voice)
(614) 292-4365 (Fax)
kirby.21@osu.edu

June P. Mead, PhD
Cornell University Extension
(607) 772-8036 (Voice)
(607) 772-8243 (Fax)
Binghamton, NY 13903
jm62@cornell.edu