Parent schools: what are they and what are their benefits?

Parent schools They aim to be a meeting place between fathers, mothers and educators and their purpose is to promote the exchange of experiences, as well as reflection on the education of children. They are, in turn, a means to purify incorrect habits (self-education), dismantle myths and promote educational guidelines favorable to the development of the child or adolescent, ensuring their understanding, respect and empowerment.

We must keep in mind that this is not a psychological or family consultation, nor are it activities unrelated to the educational community. That is to say, It is a point of union, of anchoring, between school and family. What else do we know about parenting schools? What benefits do they bring to fathers, mothers, children and teachers?

Parent schools: what are they?

Parenting schools are training programs aimed at fathers and mothers; They consist of voluntary activities through which it is intended to offer educational models and practices that help improve the care and education of sons and daughters, from the family context. That is, they have the objective of advising parents in their work.

So, we find different modalities within parenting schools: training, talks, group workshops, conferences, colloquiums… All these exercises or practices seek to encourage the participation of parents and teachers, as well as offer applied knowledge, expose shared doubts and promote interaction between all the agents involved in the education of children.

Origin and evolution

Thus, in Spain this type of training is called parent schools. The idea, actually, emerged in the United States and France at the beginning of the 20th century, in response to a social climate of concern for childhood and education in general. Since this movement began, until today, new forms of training programs have appeared, as well as new conceptions of Parent Schools.

What do they focus on?

To begin with, it should be noted that parent schools offer work sessions aimed at two objectives. On the one hand, They focus on the education of sons and daughters (a function they share with the school). At the same time, they consider their own family as a basic space for coexistence, defined by the people who make it up, by how they relate and by the context in which they are situated.

In this way, through parent schools we work in two large facets or areas: the education of the child itself and the family itself. What objectives do we find in each of these areas?

Educational field

First of all, we find that the objectives within this area are:

Provide parents with strategies, skills or other resources that help them participate and improve aspects that condition the development of their sons and daughters (growth, maturation, socialization…). Create a space where dialogue, understanding, reflection and knowledge of what it means to be a father/mother and educator at the same time. Define what role the family, the school and the social framework have, these being complementary aspects of the reality of the children who are, the same time, students.

Familiar scope

Secondly, within the family environment, other objectives are pursued:

Define the importance of the family in the development of its members. Promote dialogue and communication as essential elements to modulate family coexistence in a healthy way. Define which family space will be the most appropriate as a place of meeting and solidarity. Build democratic families that They educate their children in freedom and responsibility. Help fathers and mothers adapt to social changes.

What are its benefits?

Parent schools have different benefits, both for fathers and mothers and for teachers (or other types of educational agents). What are some of the most notable ones? Let’s get to know them:

Parents’ learning will impact their knowledge of the environment in which their children develop (physical, emotional, social, pedagogical environment…). This knowledge conveys security and confidence to the children. By knowing more about the children’s environment (and how to educate them), improvements occur in child-parent relationshipsand positive self-esteem is stimulated in children. Parenting schools can, in turn, be preventive campaigns for common problems during school years (for example: bullying or drug use).Parents become empowered as they learn to treat their children better and to stimulate their learning. The active relationship between school and family is encouraged. The acquisition of knowledge and tools to educate better, in parents, reduces the discomfort of uncertainty and improves their own confidence and self-esteem.

As a summary

As we have been seeing, Parenting schools require the active involvement of the entire educational community, not only of fathers and mothers. On the other hand, they also require programming and evaluation, as well as a commitment from the people who want to attend.

In addition, the sessions (or activities) of the parent schools will take place in small work groups. These, ideally, will be directed by an educator, monitor, psychologist…

These are activities that enable spaces for debate and reflection around aspects that may affect parenting. and education of children. Finally, they are committed to unifying educational criteria and promoting much more fluid communication between school and family.