Is some sort of certification required to teach parenting topics to parents?

Question

Let's say, someone wanted to teach parents, parenting skills. For example "Communicating with your child," in a non school or medical environment, e.g. a public library meeting room, would they need some sort of official certification / credential?

If so, what kind of certification would that be?

Answer 1

It would depend on the state you live in, but generally no - as long as you don't portray yourself as "certified" or some other approved thing. I mean, people teach computers and sewing and lots of other things.

And frankly, if you need to be certified to teach parenting, I think we should require such classes and only allow certified parents to have kids.

Answer 2

This is my take on your question. I am not against homeschooling. I support a parent's right to choose homeschooling. I make the assumption first that all parents want the best for their kids and will almost always provide a good education for their children. But I do acknowledge that both homeschooling and parents who send their kids to school are not all perfect and that neglect can occur under the radar in homeschooling. It happens when children graduate from school functionally illiterate as well. Did their parents sign out and never notice that they couldn't read? I do think denying your child(ren) an education is neglect and that society has an obligation to its children to protect them in cases of abuse and neglect. I think what most of the other answers are missing is an admission that the results of homeschooling is varied. It is neither always successful, nor always neglectful. There is a whole range and the vast majority of the time, students who are homeschooled get a good academic education. Unfortunately, in attempt to prove homeschooling is better, sometimes zealous supporters would say that homeschooling takes many forms, *ALL* of which are successful, and that no abuse or neglect could ever be committed by a homeschooling family, so MYOB. It's common sense that their argument is nonsense. There are teachers who are abusive or neglectful, as well as homeschooling parents who do the same. The key is that we're people and no group has a monopoly on perfection. Even though homeschooling can take many forms, it doesn't include denying a child an education. What you describe is not legal in any state. State laws vary, but all require children receive an education, what that is can vary, but it doesn't mean doing nothing. Unschooling, in which students guide their learning, is legal because they are learning. Doing nothing isn't legal. If an unschooled child called spongebob cartoons educational, nobody would think it is. You can't say one child's success means all other children are successful, because not all children are the same! So you should not MYOB, as some will tell you, if these boys are not getting an education. Parents are not free to use a tax-payer computer as a glorified nintendo. If the computer was provided by a free online charter school, then there are rules about how it must be used. If the boys parents are falisifing documents, they are guilty of a crime in addition to neglect. The school should be made aware of the situation. Would you ignore other fraud or crimes against a child? Sum it up. Homeschooling is a good choice if that is the parent's choice. The vast majority of homeschooled children are successful. And homeschooling parents are not more likely to neglect their children than other parents. But it is not perfect and if the children are neglected, then we have an obligation toward them.

Answer 3

Yes, you should have either a 'social work' degree or a degree is psychology ... 'parenting' sort of falls in both of those areas ... and 'teaching parenting' is a serious business, and not something you can just 'do' because it sounds 'fun' and is a good way to make an 'easy buck.'