Parent Education Needs and Sources as Perceived by Parents

Abstract

A comprehensive assessment of the needs and sources of parenting information was con ducted in a midwestern college community. Two hundred and forty‐eight parents of children from birth to senior high school as well as expectant parents responded to a mailed question naire. They indicated use, usefulness, and preferences for sources of advice on parenting and need for information on parenting. The results showed low expressed need for the traditional services of the parent educator. Parents preferred to use pediatricians, teachers, counselors, and other parents as their sources of advice on parenting. While the majority of parents ex pressed a low need for information, expectant parents expressed a high need for information for age‐specific items. In view of these findings, both parents and those professionals sought out by parents as information sources may be considered audiences for parent education. In addition, parent education should be directed toward groups of individuals with similar needs to maximize the relevance of the information. The authors concluded that parent educators must be responsive to community preferences for sources and needs for information on child rearing, and that there is a need for reconsideration of parent education audiences and methods.