Why would anyone need a book about how to raise a child?

Question

If you don't know have an idea on how you are going to raise your child, then you shouldn't be having kids in the first place. You should already have ideas on how you will communicate with your children as well as discipline them. Also, the most important thing that your child needs to know is that you have unconditional love for them no matter what.

Then you have the parents who have over confidence in the book they have read and do not realize that their techniques aren't working anymore, so the child now resents them.

Answer 1

Everyone who is a parent should read about being a parent. It's hard. Sometimes things don't turn out the way you want it to. Books, magazines, pamphlets, etc..... gives out ideas on what to do in case you feel insecure in certain areas.

Just because someone is a chef, does it mean he can't pick up a recipe book? If someone goes to church, should that stop them from reading the bible? C'mon......

I have a 13 and a 12 year old. I have read books, just to know and understand these boys. I'm a female and boys tend to act a little different (so sometimes i can't relate).
So when i pick up a book or magazine, it doesn't mean i am clueless about things... i just need some type of understanding or some other ideas on what to do.

Answer 2

Its all good and well to say that you should have ideas about how to communicate and discipline your children before you have them but that doesn't mean its going to work once they are born and growing up. Ideas and reality are two very different things.

All children are different and sometimes as parents we can do all we know of to parent them but it doesn't mean its going to be the best approach. Reading parenting books,websites or parenting classes can give you a different perspective and other ideas to try, that will enhance your parenting skills. Sometimes things you read will work and other times they won't. The thing to do is to read what you can if you feel its appropriate and then use the ideas you feel will best help you as a parent.

Children don't come with handbooks for their individual personalities and parents don't always come full equipped with the knowledge about how to deal with children. Its a learning curve from the minute they are conceived and someimes getting some other ideas can help you be a better parent.

Getting information doesn't tell your child that they don't have unconditional love, it tells them that their parents care so much about them and their welfare they are willing to do whatever it takes to do it 'right' .

I love my kids more than life itself but that doesn't stop me from wanting to tear my hair out because I don't know how to handle a certain situation. Sometimes books or classes help us parents to see things more clearly and from a different perspective.

Answer 3

Some people don't know these things, and some people already have children. There are many things that go into raising children and what is best for them, unconditional love being one of them, unconditional parenting being the another. Alot of people don't know this, and they as well as I need books as a way of guidance, validation, and education. There is always enough room to question your own beliefs in order to find the "right" path, the truth.

Answer 4

I think people try to open their minds up to new ideas so they read parenting books to learn about all the different types of parenting styles and what stages a child will go through at different times such as puberty and all that...
Not everyone is born with the knowledge of how to change a diaper or how to scold/discipline their kid for failing class...it's not as if they teach it in school unless you take a specific class for it which most people don't...or if they do, then it is 99% females in the class.
Basically I think people just read the books for ideas and other ways to approach situations that their child may put them in...for example how to reduce a fever in a newborn, how to understand your child when they are going through different stages, or how many servings of fruits and veggies does a toddler need a day??? That info. is not common knowledge to most people...

Answer 5

Yes, it's great to have a solid plan on how to raise your children before you have them. Everyone should have a plan. But what do you do if the plan doesn't work? Or your child does something/goes through something that you've never experienced?

If you have children, then I'm sure you know new situations come up all the time that you haven't gone through before or even thought about before, and sometimes you need extra help. Some people are lucky and have close family members with good advice, others are not so they have to read up on it. There's nothing wrong with reading a book to make sure that you are doing the best job possible raising your children.

You're only done learning when you're dead.

Answer 6

Knowledge is power. The more you know the better you do. One should never stop reading and educating themselves. It's good to keep an open mind and read about different approaches and theories. It's healthy to listen to others points of views... even if you might not agree. Some parenting books are too rigid, but most parents I think learn what would work for them and their child and might take tid-bits from this book and a little from another... and just try to do their best.

Answer 7

I have to say I disagree with the majority of your opinion. As a parent, I read parenting books and articles. Do I take everything I read and automatically implement it? Nope but it does make me knowledgeable just in case what I have planned doesn't work. Parenting books aren't right or wrong. They are there to offer advice and opinion on the raising of a child. What parent wouldn't want advice? What parent would actually think that they know 100% of the time what to do? Additionally, what parent wouldn't want to know as much as they could so they could raise their child the best way possible?

Parents aren't some sort Godly creature who automatically know what is best the minute they or their wife gives birth. Parents don't know everything. That's where parents books and advice from others step in.

Take for example my two-year old. When we switched him into a toddler bed at sixteen months he was so upset. Did I know how to handle the situation? Honestly, I didn't. So, I turned to parents who learned from experience. I researched on the internet about WHY my toddler was having such a rough transition. After all of that advice and knowledge I was able to get him to sleep in his bed within a few days. How was I supposed to know that he would have a hard time before I conceived him?

So, I think that parenting books are a great reference especially for people who do not have good parents or people who can give them advice. Of course, unconditional love is important--but so is making sure you are trying your best.

Answer 8

I have raised 2 children-they are total opposites-nothing at all like each other.I read books and magazines to get ideas on how to better communicate and relate to my children.I appreciated advice from other mothers and fathers -even if I didn't agree with it or implement it. The way you discipline one child may not work with the next child-the same goes for relating to them and understanding them,There isn't a mold for raising kids.There were times when we were raising our children that ideas we had didn't pan out and we needed to look at other ways to deal with their successes as well as their failures.The most important thing my kids needed to know was they were safe and truly cared for.Unconditional love is a given with a child--- they need much more than love trust me.

Answer 9

What you say is all true, however no harm ever came from trying to broaden your knowledge. Having an idea on how you will communicate, how you will discipline your child comes from background and how you grew up, it doesn't make it the best technique. The best parent is one that loves their child unconditionally and keeps an open mind to bigger and better ways to be a parent.

Answer 10

I agree with everything you stated but children don't come with directions on how it respect your parents, your parent know the best , how to talk to your parents and do I love them or what? Parenting is a two way streets dude. It's not as easy as you think it is. Your children can abide by your rules and listen to you and respect you. They are playing you for a fool.. Once their 18. Your children become absolute monsters. Illegal drinking, having unsafe sex, drugs. Everything that you sheltered them from. But can I let you on a little secret? They've done all of that before 18. Just to spite you. Were you a perfect child? Then you know there are no perfect parents nor are there perfect children.