A Critical Course to Take in High School

What would you consider to be the most important courses to take in high school?

How about Math, Science, History, English…and Parenting Skills!

Want to determine just how prepared you (or your students) are for parenthood?

Take our pop quiz to find out!

1. How many hours of coursework are required for people wishing to become parents?
2. How much money does it cost to raise a child to the age of 18?
3. What can be done to prevent child abuse/neglect before a child is even born?

How do you think you did?

Answer to question 1 (Hours of coursework required)

There are no requirements for anyone to take a parenting course. No education is required to raise children in the United States. If you have children biologically, you might take a course at your local hospital on caring for an infant, but that is optional.

Answer to question 2 (Cost to raise a child to age 18)

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (2013), the average cost of raising a child is $241,080 and the costs are rising.

Dreaming of having a big family?  Try the USDA Cost of Raising a Child calculator here.

Use the average United States salary (2014) for your base income: $46,481.00.

This statistic is an eye opener for many students, in that they can see the cost factors that are associated with raising one single child (let alone multiple).

Where does this money go?
See the infographic below!

Answer to question 3 (Best way to prevent child abuse/neglect before a child is even born)

Education. Education. Education.

Understanding the stages in child development as well as the behaviors children exhibit can help parents prepare for new child-rearing experiences and situations. In some cases, education can be a strong prevention tool in counteracting certain forms of abuse and neglect.

Yes, FLVS Parenting Skills is an important course to consider when selecting electives to take during a student’s high school career.

For anyone who wishes to learn about the challenges and joys of becoming a parent, work in a child-centered career, or to have a stronger understanding of the important aspects of growing up in our modern-day world, the FLVS Parenting Skills course offers a plethora of real-world parenting knowledge and insight.

FLVS Parenting Skills is one of the top five requested electives in the course catalog for high school.

The topics covered in the course are diverse and meaningful to today’s society, including diversity, self-esteem, social media/technology, adoption, volunteering in the community, and more!

Here’s the course description:

What is the best way to care for children and teach them self-confidence and a sense of responsibility? The process of parenting involves more than having a child and providing food and shelter. In this course, students learn what to prepare for, what to expect, and what vital steps parents can take to create the best environment for their children.

Parenting roles and responsibilities, nurturing and protective environments for children, positive parenting strategies, and effective communication in parent/child relationships are some of the topics covered in this course. Get started today and learn about the skills parents need to raise healthy and productive kids.

Learn more about Parenting Skills here and sign up today to get started!