NPEN: Core Principles

The goals of parenting education are to strengthen families by providing relevant, effective education and support and to encourage an optimal environment for the healthy growth and development of parents* and children.

* The term parents includes key persons who play the central, parenting role in a child's life.

Parents:

are committed to their child's well being.
have the responsibility to love unconditionally, nurture, guide, educate, encourage and protect their child from birth to adulthood.
most effectively meet the needs of their child in the context of a respectful, responsive and supportive relationship.
are a child's first and most influential teachers and profoundly impact all domains of growth and development.
are the primary decision-makers for their children.
bring strengths to their parental role.
bring unique histories, goals, values and beliefs to their role.
deserve and can benefit from parenting education and support.

Parenting:

is a life-long, dynamic process.
is reciprocal between parent and child.
is influenced by many factors including temperament, personality, biology and the unique experiences brought to the relationship by both parent and child.
is influenced by the social, economic and psychological context of families, communities and cultures.
involves creating a balance between the needs of the child and the needs of the parents.

Parenting Education:

helps parents guide their child through childhood toward healthy adulthood.
enhances family relationships and promotes family resiliency.
is consistent with current, validated research and information regarding child and adult development.
is based on best practices and principles of parenting education and family support.
promotes knowledge and skills through education and support for all parents.
recognizes, respects and responds to the unique contexts, religious, racial/ethnic and cultural diversity of each family.
is an effective resource for a strength-based approach to serving all families.

Parenting Educators:

are individuals whose background includes preparation in the following areas: child development, adult development and learning, family relationships, parenting education, and interpersonal and group facilitation.
are familiar with various frameworks, theories and schools of thought that influence and guide practice in parenting education.
work in partnership with parents, understanding that each parent/child relationship is unique.
provide both education and support to respectfully address the goals and needs of parents and families.
continually expand their knowledge base of issues and topics relevant to children and families.
work toward developing multiple perspectives to address the diversity of families, children and communities.
provide the education and support parents need to make and implement effective decisions for their families.
build networks, share resources and advocate to effect change on behalf of the families they serve.

This document is a working draft that will be revised and altered continually. Feedback is welcomed.