Pediatrician and Neonatologist

• A parent is born at the same instant that a child is. Your first parenting skills teacher is the neonatologist, who specializes in the treatment of newborns. Most initial skills, such as the correct way to hold your infant, proper feeding routines, developmental guidelines and timely vaccination information, are taught by the doctor. As the child grows older, the pediatrician plays a vital role in teaching you the importance of hygiene, nutrition, medical care and appropriate developmental stimulation for your child.
  
  

Other Parents

• A mother to a toddler often learns essential dos and don'ts from other mothers. It is often a source of reassurance when parents, even your own, are able to interact and share parenting skills. For this purpose, there are various parenting forums and discussion groups. There are also many blogs on the Internet that impart parenting lessons, such as advice on developmental milestones in kids, discipline methods or child safety education, all through sharing.
  
  

Teachers

• The child's first school teacher is also your first teacher for parenting a school-age child. Teachers offer vital insights into your child's behavioral development, group dynamism with peers and academic needs. These inputs hone skills in the parent to make reasonable expectations from the child. Teachers give the important lesson of building self-esteem and pride in your child. They also teach how to encourage and teach the child at home.
  
  

Parenting Books and Media

• Parenting skills are also taught through books. Toddlers, pre-schoolers, elementary school children and teens all have specific challenges and situations to cope with. There is a wide array of books available on these topics. Popular books include "How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk" by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish, and "The Baby Book" by William and Martha Sears, to name a few. Media resources, such as television shows on parenting, talk shows with doctors and Internet resources for parents, are other methods used to learn parenting skills.
  
  

Training Programs

• Training programs target specific skills for the parent. They encourage skill transfer through debates, group discussions and role play sessions. Parents are also encouraged to participate with children and learn from playing, reading, games and other out-bound activities. These programs can be customized to suit the specific needs of families. Parents can access such programs through non-profit organizations, like the Morris Foundation, or enroll in parent-specific life coach programs. Such programs may be school-based, community-specific or targeted to remedial measures for behavioral challenges and health problems in children. Community-based programs are often organized locally by the family court system, schools or local hospitals.