Parenting can be defined as performing the role of a parent by care-giving, nuturing and protecting children as they grow from baby to teenager. Parenting is different from child rearing. In child rearing the emphasis is on the act of training or bringing up a child and the interaction between the parent and child. Parenting emphasises the responsibility and qualities of exemplary behaviour of the parent. Parenting may be carried out by the natural parent(s) or by a substitute (e.g. other relative, step-parent, foster parent). In an ideal world a parent supports every child by consistent, empathic, appropriate behaviours in response to the child’s needs.
There is no single correct way to be a parent, nor is there a perfect parent or resource to provide all the answers. Being a parent involves a huge number of decisions about the best way to bring up the child. This responsibility can bring happiness and excitement, but it can also be overwhelming, frustrating and boring at times. Parents need different skills for each stage, but most people manage the emotional and practical challenges of parenting with a mixture of love, help from relatives and friends, good advice, common sense and luck.
Helpful skills such as reflective listening or the techniques of positive parenting can be taught and learned. Positive parenting means using warmth, love, respect, consistency, good communication and empathy in the way parents behave with their children. There is much evidence to show that authoritative and positive parenting has enormous benefits. Children with parents who use such skills are far less likely to have behavioural problems, for example. Positive parenting skills, together with knowledge of child development, can make the difference between parenting being a stressful, puzzling and irritating experience. Understanding why children behave the way they do at each stage can increase the enjoyment of parenting.
There are many internet sites providing information on parenting. A few of them are listed below; within each of these are links to many further useful on-line resources.