Do you think there should be a legal age limit to be a parent?

Question

and i mean older then 18,

Answer 1

Oh yeah.. and have training and pass a test. You have to do that to get a license so why not a test to be a parent. You would not believe the idiot parents I have seen in my life. Some people should not be allowed to multiply. But above all, having babies when you are under 18 or 19 can be really rough.

Answer 2

Tough call. Parenting isn't something they teach you in school, well I guess they give you a few pointers perhaps. Being a parent is something you must learn first hand. You can read all the books in the world, but nothing will prepare you for the REAL thing, except the REAL thing.
People are far more mature emotionally when they're in their late 20's, early 30's, than when they are in their teens-early 20's.
I'm in my 50's, and I look back on my 30's and sometimes think, "boy was I ever immature then", or "I should have done that differently". I guess it's all part of life.
The way the world is today, ideally we should be waiting until we're in our late 20's or even our 40's! I know that sounds silly, but by that time most of us have matured, and are stable emotionally and financially.
Too bad we can't outfit a 20 year old, with a 40 year olds brain! The world might be a better place!
But to answer your question; yes, people should definitely be over 18. The majority of people under 18 can't take care of themselves, let alone a baby. Why should a baby have to endure and live through their 'child' Mother or Fathers mistakes, emotional development, and bad choices in life. Those are things we all have to go through granted...but why involve a baby, when it may harm that infants future?

Answer 3

Not really I mean obviously it's best to wait 'till you're settled down, have a good relationship or married, good job savings, but you know things happen and I think the government has no right to make an age limit. As long as the parents are supporting the kid and not abusive than the government has no place in what should be a private family matter.

Answer 4

well there kinda is. under age sex is against the law....no sex, no parents. this limit clearly does not stop the problem and I doubt it could be with a true limit. Parents have rights to be parents even if they are 14 (or whatever age). I don't think a child should be a parent ever.

Answer 5

Yes, but I would make it 21.
18 year olds are stupid and still children intellectually. At 21 you have some experience (though nothing truely compares to being a parent).

In responce:
The last thing there should be is classes. They'd teach parents to be idiots, who regotiate with their kids (that's what the parenthood people are teaching now).

Answer 6

Chronological age means nothing. Maturity and responsibility is everything. If we could test this or issue parents with an easy-to-understand, multi-lingual instruction manual with each child we may be on our way to something great.

Answer 7

If a woman is physically able to have a child at age 55 or at age 62, and she wants to have one, she should have one. A friend of mine has a classmate who had her first child at age 55. Ain't modern medicine wonderful?

Answer 8

A great idea until the light go out

Answer 9

I think that Planned Parenthood and friends should stop promoting sex for teens. making a law would be governmentment intrusion into family matters, which can end up being tyrannical.

Answer 10

I believe there should be mandatory classes on being a parent.