Parents Ask: Can Parenting Books Actually Help Me?

First-time parents often gather ideas on what to do through the available resources that they have. It's either through the internet or parenting books. 

However, some parents ask, "Can parenting books help in parenting?"

Parents have different opinions regarding this matter. Some would say that parenting books have helped them go through difficult stages. 

On the other hand, some parents would say that parenting needs no manual. Some psychologists would even say that parenting books do not work. 

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Parenting books don't help

Here are some of the reasons why some people think parenting books do not work:

Tackles issues generally

Just like saying that every child is different, it is also fit to say that parenting is not the same for all parents.

Some parents believe that the stuff written in books might not work for all parents. 

Authors are not parents

Critics would often say that someone should walk the talk. In the case of parenting books, parents do not trust whatever is written in them because the writers are writing based on their degrees and not their experiences. 

Some of them are hideous

Some parents feel that there are tips found in parenting books that tend to be misleading. Some of the tips do not seem feasible to some parents, that is why they choose to disregard it all at the same time.

Makes you feel like you are a terrible parent

When reading this kind of books, parents sometimes feel that what they are doing is not the right thing. Because of this, parents are led to believing that they are not becoming effective, even if they are.

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Parenting books are helpful

On the other hand, some people believe that parenting books are efficient and effective. Here are some of the reasons why:

Parenting is difficult nowadays

Some parents think that because the situations faced nowadays are very unusual than before. Also, parents today are having difficulty in making the right choices for their children. Parenting books help in filling this gap.

Help save money

Because government and Child Protective Services are very costly, using parenting books is the way to go around the expenses. Through the maximization of parenting books, the cost of foster care can be reduced.

Show how much parents care about their children's welfare

Reading parenting books is a good step in showing a willingness to address issues in parenting.

According to experts, parenting books will only become effective when both parents are taking a conscious effort in acknowledging the need to learn. 

Besides parenting books, some parents suggest other methods for learning how to be effective parents. Some of these include trusting one's instinct and listening to your parents. 

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