What are parenting groups and are they helpful?

By Dr. Jerry Kay

You cannot get professional advice about every facet of raising children. But you can get real-world help from parenting groups.

If you are a parent looking for someone who understands the trials, tribulations and triumphs you face with your children everyday, consider joining one of the local parenting groups in your area. They are exactly what they sound like: a group of parents (or grandparents, aunts and uncles, siblings, caretakers, etc) who are raising a child and that assemble together along with others who are involved in the process of parenting such as educators, social services people, and policymakers for the benefit of the community.

Some of these groups are organized for special concerns like children with disabilities or a medical condition. Some parenting groups are organized for gay or lesbian parents, while others might be put together for no special reason except out of the need for mutual support. They are usually formed according to geographic location, though with the advance of Internet technology now many more support groups are starting to be formed worldwide. Some parenting groups can be very small with just a handful of members, whereas others could be fairly large with hundreds of listed attendees.

One of the benefits about them is that they provide parents with training and understanding in meeting the challenges of parenthood. Many families join parenting groups not necessarily for the education, but simply because it’s nice to receive emotional support and have meet other parents with similar circumstances.

Typical activities in a group might include talking and listening to each other’s problems and solutions, making new friendships, distributing helpful information, arranging for speakers on various topics, or even setting up respite care or babysitting arrangements. Often times parenting groups are put together specifically to voice family concerns that are not being represented elsewhere in the community.

Parenting Resources

Because I Love You - A non-profit organization dedicated to supporting parents with troubled children of any age.

Data Base of Parent Support Groups - A good starting point.

In an open forum, parents are allowed to express themselves and tell the rest of the group what’s on their mind. This can be particularly helpful in special parenting groups (such as groups helping disabled children) and it shows each member that many people deal with similar situations. Sometimes in situations where parents are raising disabled children or raising children in a gay household, in such a unique situation a parent may not find a lot of empathy in the traditional community. Rather than isolating him or herself, it is a much better idea for a parent to seek out new friendships with people who truly understand and identify with the circumstances. Doing that via parenting groups is very enriching.

Another one of the advantages of forming and participating is that when a group of people approach a community about a concern, it tends to be noticed. Often times schools are lacking funding, or a playground is in need or repair, if parenting groups take the matter seriously and demand change, chances are things will happen quickly.

Joining is a productive and unselfish way to help the community. Nothing bad can come from making new friends and trying to make a difference in the life of a child.

Where can I find information on parenting a toddler? - You were not born with the innate ability to know all about parenting a toddler. You have to learn. Here's some tips that will take you out of the "trial-by-error" mode.

Dr. Jerry Kay is a psychologist and family counselor. He is a frequent speaker at youth and family counseling seminars.

Header graphic courtesy of Digital Westex Gallary

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