| At one time or another we all need help and | | | | empathy and advice from other parents in |
| parents are no exceptions. Parents have long | | | | forums, chat rooms and on blogs. |
| lamented that children do not come with an | | | | Your church or other religious affiliation can be a |
| instruction manual. Sometimes parenting can be a | | | | good source of help for parents. Churches can |
| lonely job and parents simply need to feel | | | | offer instructional support on parenting skills in the |
| validated that they are on the right track with | | | | form of parenting classes or Sunday School |
| their kids. There are also sources that can give a | | | | classes. They can also offer practical helps such |
| parent new ideas on how to care for their | | | | as babysitting, preschool programs, scouting |
| children better. | | | | programs and consignment sales for children's |
| One of the first places a parent can go for help is | | | | clothing. They can be a social outlet for parents |
| parenting magazines. As a rule magazines will give | | | | and their kids. They are also a good place to find |
| a good overview on accepted thoughts on child | | | | other parents with the same values that you |
| development and health issues. Every once in a | | | | have. |
| while a magazine will publish something that seems | | | | Books are a great source of parenting advice by |
| a bit off or contrary to common sense. This can | | | | the experts and can be purchased online or in |
| happen can magazines can be inclined to be a bit | | | | bookstores. Another great source of books is |
| sensational to sell more issues. | | | | your public library. Books can give you the |
| Another source of help is your child's school | | | | perspective from other parents, as well as |
| counselor. They can be a great place to go if | | | | educational and medical experts. |
| your child has learning disabilities or problems with | | | | People you know like your friends who are |
| friends in school. Anytime a child is having difficulty | | | | parents, your own parents and your grandparents |
| in school, a school counselor is one to approach. | | | | can be a source of help. Friends can swap |
| Your child's teacher is also a great source of help. | | | | babysitting, parenting anecdotes and sympathy |
| A teacher spends hours a day in a room with | | | | with you. Your parents can also be a source of |
| twenty or more youngsters of approximately the | | | | advice, but do not feel you must follow their |
| same age. A teacher will have a good feel for | | | | advice just because they are your parents. You |
| what is the expected development for a child of | | | | are still the parent of your child and must weigh all |
| that age. Teachers can also give an adult | | | | the advice you get before you choose to act on |
| perspective of what is going on between one child | | | | what feels right for your child. |
| and another at school. | | | | Parenting is a difficult job and parents need all the |
| The internet can be a dubious source of help for | | | | help they can get. Every child, parent and family |
| parents. Anybody can publish anything on the | | | | situation is different, so parents cannot |
| internet so be careful of this source. On the other | | | | automatically assume that advice will translate well |
| hand the website for a real world parenting | | | | to their own circumstances. However the above |
| resource can be very helpful. An example of this | | | | sources can be very helpful when considered with |
| would be the website for the La Leche League | | | | care. Sources such as these can be great for |
| which offers breastfeeding support or the | | | | providing creative new ways of considering a |
| website for the American Academy for Pediatrics | | | | problem and its solutions. |
| for children's health issues. Parents can also find | | | | |