Some people say that to benefit the development of a child, the mother and father should take parenting classes. To what extent you agree or disagree with this statement?

Raising a child well requires knowledge, patience, and emotional skill — qualities that do not come automatically to every parent. I agree that parenting classes can genuinely benefit many mothers and fathers, though I do not believe such programmes should be treated as a universal requirement, since some parents are already well equipped through experience and cultural support.

For first-time parents especially, structured parenting programmes offer practical knowledge that can be difficult to acquire on one's own. New parents often lack familiarity with early child development — from understanding infant sleep patterns to managing emotional outbursts in toddlers — and reliable guidance in these areas can reduce anxiety and prevent harmful responses. Research from several European countries has shown that parents who attend certified child-rearing workshops report greater confidence in handling behavioural challenges and are less likely to resort to harsh disciplinary measures. Beyond individual benefit, children raised by better-informed parents tend to develop stronger emotional regulation and communication skills at earlier ages, which translates into measurable improvements in school readiness. In this respect, parenting classes function not merely as personal support but as an investment in a child's long-term development.

That said, it would be unreasonable to insist that every parent attend such courses. Many individuals raise children successfully by drawing on years of accumulated family wisdom, cultural traditions, and direct experience with younger siblings or relatives. In communities where extended families remain closely involved in child-rearing, grandparents and other relatives often provide the practical guidance and emotional support that formal classes aim to replicate. Furthermore, parents who are raising their second or third child have typically developed an intuitive understanding of their children's needs and rarely require formal instruction to reinforce what they already know. Mandating classes for such parents would be both inefficient and potentially patronising. For this reason, parenting programmes are best offered as an accessible, voluntary resource rather than an obligatory condition of parenthood.

In conclusion, parenting classes hold real value for those who lack experience or support, and promoting their availability is worthwhile. However, compelling all parents to attend regardless of their background is unnecessary and impractical. The most sensible approach is to make such courses widely available and encourage participation where it is genuinely needed, rather than imposing them as a blanket obligation.