Correlation Between Education Level and Parenting Skills?

Well, on the one hand, yes.
Educated people (in general) make more money, and therefore have better access to healthy food, good health care and overall quality of life.
On the other hand, no, because clearly there are plenty of wonderful, hardworking and loving parents with just a basic education.
I think that the parents I most admire are those who are genuinely committed to raising their kids to be kind, thoughtful and productive adults, and that take the time to listen to and understand their kids as they grow.
And yes, sometimes that involves cracking open a book! I'm not big on all the different parenting theories out there, but one of the smartest things I did was to take some early childhood education classes when my kids were babies/toddlers. Understanding how children develop and knowing what's reasonable to expect at different ages and stages makes you a much more effective parent.

I hate to admit it, but I do.

That doesn't mean I think uneducated people are bad parents... After all, my dad was a high-school dropout, and he is an amazing father. I also know plenty of people I would consider "good" parents who are uneducated... And several who are very well-educated but the worst parents I know. But in general, it seems like people who have the drive to seek out knowledge tend to apply this to their parenting as well... I think it leads them to question things and search out alternative methods rather than falling back to how they were raised. Kind of a "when we know better, we do better" situation.

Also, I don't consider "educated" to be limited to having gotten a degree... People can be well educated even if it's not formal. :)

I've seen many more parents with less education than parents with a college education. Most of my college degreed friends did not have children. I believe education is just a way to identify skills that can be gained in other ways.

A college education requires commitment in time and energy. In college one learns how to use their mind to problem solve. It can also mean that the student is able to focus on education and not on social akills, the single minded definition. A college education may or may not make a better parent. It does give a parent access to more resources.

The low income parents I saw had very few resources not only to parent but also to just live. No money. Little experience outside their immediate social group.They are limited in coping skills. Frequently depressed and/or angry. They parent as they were parented. They rarely have an inquiring mind that would help them see that they could be different.

These are the two extremes. In the middle are the parents without a college education who have an adequate income, who use their mind to problem solve. They have learned how to be moderately successful in life. They are able to focus on raising their children because their own basic needs are being met.

I suggest that having basic needs met and the ability to meet their children's needs is more important than education. A college degree provides resources for parenting but does not give them the ability to be concerned about their child's needs.

I suggest that what makes a successful parent is their ability to recognize and meet their children's needs and ability to make adjustments for their child's needs. Higher education may or may not be helpful.

oh geez, no. and weirdly, some of the highly educated parents with unbearably horrible kids are educated in child growth and development.
i think it's much more about personality and family parenting philosophies than education per se. how to apply boundaries and keep them, have a sense of humor, practice unconditional love and know when to bend the rules seem to rely far more on both hardwiring and experience than book larnin'.
ETA been very interesting reading these responses. i can totally get behind socioeconomic factors affecting vast swathes of kids greatly (we all see it) but i'd still hesitate to make the leap to 'greater education means better parenting'. of course, that could simply be due to the fact that the ol' man and i aren't college-educated.
khairete
S.

It's a statistical fact that education and parenting are related. I see the results of it every day when I teach. Of course the well-educated can make parenting mistakes, and the uneducated can be great parents, but sadly, there is a marked correlation between the education level of the parents and the outcome of their parenting. It's one of the main reasons I like teaching the disadvantaged population. It's where I can make my greatest contribution.

Reading below: I think most of us are thinking of educated people we know or have witnessed who make terrible mistakes in parenting. And we can all come up with some of those examples, mostly because those are the circles we run in, and that is the parenting we are witnessing. We haven't witnessed the alternative -- the parenting of the poor and uneducated. It's often not pretty, either, in a much more insidious way.

But the stats don't lie. Look at the graduation rates and job opportunities and income and incarceration rates of children from disadvantaged populations (which usually equates with education), vs those of the (educated) elite, and it speaks for itself. All you have to do it teach on the east and the west sides of my town, and the difference is painfully apparent.

In my experience, like many have said, it has to be a combination of personal character, willingness to learn and change and grow, and a desire to have a deeper relationship with our children.

There are lots of economic studies which suggest that the (measured) success of the child is more likely when the parents are better educated. That might be true in some cases: parents who are more educated are also more affluent and can afford to have one stay at home parent, or hire higher quality caregivers, can afford to give their children opportunities (extracurriculars, travel, tutoring, even more specialized professional attention for their child's challenges) . Yet, I can't help but think that a degree is an outward symbol of achievement of an education in that one area, and that the degree, in and of itself, doesn't make for a better parent. I mean, in my work, as a nanny and preschool teacher, I saw both examples: highly educated parents who took the extra time to learn about their child-- not through books, but through playing with them, exploring, being open to listening to their child's thoughts, having happy adventures sharing their worlds with each other (there is an element of empathy and listening and respect employed in this).... I've also seen law professors totally have tantrums about something as mundane as a toy rolling under the fridge, or the weird family dynamics in some homes where parents aren't forward and honest with their spouses or others in their lives. Being dysfunctional doesn't really know the boundaries of class or education. But when parents choose not to communicate in honest and respectful ways, the child suffers in both the example they receive and in their own interactions.

In my own family, of all my sisters, there is only one of us with a degree. That individual isn't raising their child, our parents are. Every other child is with their parents. I think that says it all. It's about the person, not a piece of paper.

ETA: after reading all of the comments thus far, I think there is one simple piece of the puzzle that is missing: having the *desire* to parent our child/ren well. I come from a rather uneducated, very dysfunctional and horrible childhood and you know, it's my determination to want so much better for my son which motivates me to do the things necessary to be a better parent. I think it helps to start out with a supportive family of origin, but many of us have broken the cycle because we were determined not to do any less for our children, present or future. You have to want to be the best parent you can be for your own self worth.

I do see a correlation. Those parents with higher education tend to be older, more mature, more stable, more involved with their kids, put more thought and research into parenting decisions and have more resources to parent with. Of course there are exceptions, but overall this is what I have observed.

ETA: Where I am the parents with the higher education levels usually have one parent stay at home because their income levels and savings allow them to do this. It is the families with the lower education levels that tend to have the two working parent households to make ends meet.

I am not only talking about university degrees, but also military training and trade school. As long as parents have some sort of education and are easily able to provide for their children's basic needs. If a parent has to struggle just to provide a child's basic needs then that parent will have a much harder time caring for a child's higher level needs. I personally don't believe a PHD will do a better job of parenting than a plumber, but both are going to do a much better job than a high school drop out.

This question is impossible to answer since it's all wrapped up in socioeconomic status. The privilege of higher education is more likely to be enjoyed by those who come from backgrounds that are more economically advantaged.

It is far more difficult to be a "good parent" (or more precisely, an involved parent) when you are struggling to meet your children's basic needs.

I think of Maslow's pyramid, all that stuff truly great parents bestow on their kids is at the top. Just one more reason we need to address the widening wealth gap in this country. Free higher education for all would make people more economically stable and therefore more capable of parenting well and in turn create a stronger society. You don't even need a college degree to see that.

ADDED: To Julie S's point, I am bit offended by the idea that the issue of generational poverty and lack of parenting skills can be solved through psychology alone. Breaking that cycle costs money in one way or another.

Which came first the "learned helplessness" or the income disparity, high unemployment, lack of opportunity and education inequality? If you solve the root of the problems you won't have to deal with the learned helplessness. That whole concept was born of an experiment that was initially carried out on DOGS.

Well, 8 hours ago I wrote an answer and I hit a key that made it all disappear. Grrr... So I guess I'll try once more.

I do think that higher level formal education makes a better parent. Plenty of other posters on here scoff at that and are offended by the notion. To each her own, in terms of opinon. We can argue both sides of the coin all day long if we want to. But when it comes down to it, statistics will bear out that kids in families with educated parents do better. And all of our "opinions" on the subject just don't matter.

Decades past, so many women went to college only to get their "MRS." degree. Once they met their husband, that was it. Some dropped out of school to get married and most stayed at home. It wasn't about getting an education - it was about landing a husband. Most on this site aren't old enough to know about this personally, but your mothers might be in this camp.

Times change, many women need to work and have a career, and women no longer go to college to find a husband. They have higher aspirations than that. And they learn and study and work and marry and have kids. Some stay at home once the kids come, and some balance work and home.

My MIL, who finished 2 years of college before marrying, told me that she was glad that she had kids when she was "young and stupid" because she didn't know yet at that point that parents could screw up their kids. She did a good job with her children. She was smart and educated, even with only 2 years of college. She was educated by a pretty much single mom because education was valued. And she passed that on to her children. All her children have college degrees, and some have gone on to get masters degrees. When you show your children you care about education, it makes a huge difference.

Gamma's post tells an important story. I know not everyone likes it, but if you had the experience that Gamma's friend has, you'd understand it better. My own mother has the exact same experience as Gamma's friend. The kids came to school because that's usually the only place they got to eat - breakfast and lunch. Those kids WANTED to come to school because that's the only place they knew they'd get meals. And they were always trying hug my mom. She instituted hug time once a day because otherwise, she wouldn't get much work done. She felt that no one at home hugged them.

Mom had two little girls in her class who were smart, and the girl's uneducated mother volunteered in the school around her minimum wage job. (Most of those moms didn't do any volunteering.) Though she didn't have much education, she did care. However, their poor family circumstances didn't translate into success for her girls. My mom has kept up with them even up until now. They got pregnant and dropped out of high school, the fathers of the babies did not marry them, they work minimum wage jobs and barely make ends meet. I have sent my kids' hand-me-downs to them since my own kids were little - sometimes what my mom took down to them from me was all they would have for Christmas. They'd be in a house with no heat other than a kerosene heater, sleeping on the floor, no toilet paper, and no water. Just awful.

Personally, I'm grateful as a woman today that women who have a college degree and start a career are having children. It's a different day and age than when women usually started having families right out of high school. And yes, high school grads who start having babies early can be good moms, even today. Mostly, I think, because their moms were good moms. But women who wait until they have finished school, have at least some college under their belts, have some security with a partner who has a job, have an easier time raising children. And they have more life experience and more wisdom. Mind you, we all learn our "mothering job" by doing, but it's easier when we are more grown up, more mature.

Of course, we all know highly educated parents whose kids are spoiled brats and rule the roost. There are are no absolutes when you are talking about a huge group of families. And we know kids who grow up with absent fathers and poor moms who end up pulling out of abject poverty and being very successful.

So what's the bottom line? Yeah, uneducated parenting can be successful. Many of us here on MP can atest to that. But, overall, the more we educate ourselves and the more we educate our children, the better off we are and the better off society is. The statistics bear this out.

I think it takes a certain temperament, common sense and a willingness to take the time to figure out your child or each of your children. People with or without higher educations that are willing to search for answers or solutions, make the best parents.

I always encourage people to seek help. Even if it means I am picking up a parenting book at a book store or a library and searching for some advice for options and ideas for handling a situation, that I cannot figure out.

I grew up in a dysfunctional family, because both of my parents came from dysfunctional families.

In my heart I knew they HAD to be a better way to work with children. I hated the yelling, the spanking, popping swatting. I hated that my parents could not speak to each other without seething.. It was like living in a battle ground.

But some people just think that since they "turned out alright" they will just parent as they were parented.

But hopefully we now know, each child is their own person. Each needs to parented differently. One size does not fit all. Our goal is to raise, loved, happy, well educated independent thinking children. I am thrilled when our daughter has her own way for doing things. It shows me that she is her own person and can make her own good choices.

And when we cannot figure out how to parent or are not happy with the way we are parenting, we can easily seek out suggestions and guidance.

I have seen both sides.. I don't think a higher education level affords you better parenting skills.. However, it might gain you better access to help if you need it.. I had my son at 37 and by then, I only had my GED and a few community courses under my belt... What has made me a good parent (albeit not the best as no one is the best) has been my life experience.. that experience has reigned far more important and helpful than any college course I have ever taken... Now, if you what you mean is that a formal education might offer you more of a vocabulary and insight to other aspects of life that you can impart to your child, then that coupled with love, attention and nurturing might make you a better parent than you otherwise might have been.. however, it's simple ... and people try to over-complicate things.. good parenting to me means..nurturing, kindness, authority when needed but never with physical force, empathy, a sense of humor, the list could go on... I know plenty of kids who come from highly educated families (my son goes to a private school) and many of the parents have gone to ivy league schools...... and do I think they are better parents than me, the lesser educated.. NO... education can buy you formal education. but it can't buy you commonsense........ that you have to figure out for yourself....

No, nada, nothing, education level means nothing. It is always a combination of how you were raised and your ability to ignore how other people parent. Well and not being married to one specific parenting theory.

I had my first when I was 20, second 22, didn't get any sort of degree until I was 42, got a handful then but that isn't part of the question, I digress. I never tried anything my mom did, I knew that didn't work. Tried other family members suggestions, nope. What I arrived at was, when I was a kid, and I did whatever I want to stop, what would have stopped me. That was always the basis of my parenting style, it worked, and nothing in my education would have taught me that.

Some of the least intelligent people I know have PhDs. All that means is you had the time and money to stay in school half your life. See you can get a PhD in underwater basket weaving and people do. They do it because they think they can point to those letters and show they are so smart when nothing they say or do seems intelligent at all. Kind of sad really.

I also know very intelligent people with advanced degrees. The most intelligent people I know have no degree. Still in the end degrees and intelligence has never correlated with parenting skills.

What makes someone a good parent is accepting that you are the tree to that apple. No matter how many books you read, things that sound good, nothing will make your apple become the apple of the exceptional tree down the street. So as long as you accept your apples, and know your apples will be just like you when you were an apple, your apple will be the best apple it can be.

I find Gamma's post offensive. Sorry but there are a lot of very intelligent people trapped in the system. It isn't that they don't know how to help their kids they don't see why. Learned helplessness is passed from one generation to another and it has nothing to do with intelligence or ability to parent. They parent as they do because that was what they were taught. Until we get over the idea that this can be fixed with money and accept it is psychology these poor people will never make it out.

Nothing about how I parent could be successful if you are a victim of learned helplessness. If you believe you are the most successful tree you can be they you won't try to make better for your apples.

K-Bell, how many decades have we been throwing money at the problem? Have you seen any improvement? You can't pay a person to be a better parent, you can only teach and empower.

I don't know. I have had students who have come from homes with two doctor parents and students who have come from families with uneducated parents. I've seen the extremes of parenting skills in both cases.

I've had students with highly educated parents who basically have given over care of their kids to a nanny and have very little to do with their kids. We know a family with two doctors. I never see the kids with their parents. They are always with the nanny. I don't know if they have good parenting skills because I never see them with their kids. The nanny has great parenting skills for being just in her early 20s. I've had students with highly educated parents who are spoiled and have a sense of entitlement and get away with everything because mom or dad has bailed them out. I've had students who have parents with little education who could care less about how their kids are doing in school. They spend little time with them because they are working two or even three low-entry jobs. They seem to see their kids as baggage and big inconveniences.

I've had students who have parents who have very little education who are very involved with their kids' education. Their kids are disciplined, polite, respectful, and just great kids. Yes, they have very little, but their parents are definitely doing an amazing job. I've had lots of students that you know mom and dad are highly educated just because of all the background they have with lots of different things. They are involved in their kids' lives, but aren't overbearing helicopter parents. Their kids are well rounded and there is good balance in their lives.

I have a couple of friends who never graduated from college who are great parents. My husband has several coworkers with doctorates who I would say have very loose parenting skills.

I think there is so much more to being a great parent then education--financial stability, maturity, physical/mental health, support systems, priorities, quality time with kids, quantity of time spent with kids, and so much more.

I think a lot of it is perspective as well. I'm highly educated, but I'm sure there are some who would say I'm not the best parent because: my young kids don't have a set bedtime, I don't buy organic, we eat out a lot, sometimes I would buy them something just to keep them for crying in the middle of Target, I let them eat a lot of "junk", they get way more screen time than what the experts say they should get. But you know what. I don't care about any of that. My kids are happy, healthy, polite, respectful, sympathetic, empathetic, all around great kids. Teachers and others are always complementing my kids on what great role models they are. We make great memories. That is what matters to me more than if I fit someone else's definition of a "good parent."

Yes, I think there is a correlation but not necessarily causation.

One spurious factor might be that some people delay parenting until after they complete their educations. Though I didn't do it that way (LOL) I think I would have been a better parent if I had waited until my late 20's/early 30's to have kids. That being said, there are so many exceptions to this "rule" that it's hard to generalize.

There are highly educated people who neglect their kids emotionally, and physically.

Again, I do think you see sometimes see a relationship between education and parenting effectiveness, but it's not always causal if that makes sense.

I don't think so.
I see great (and horrible) parenting from all over the educational spectrum.

I can assure you that as an educated, working professional of nearly 20 years, when I brought my newborn home at 39? I was clueless and terrified! Lol

And I've seen very young, less educated moms be the best, gentlest, intuitive moms.

I think it's more a product of environment, family support and how you were parented. I just don't think we can wrap good parenting and education in a neatly tied package. There are WAY too many other factors that come into play.

No, I don't. To the extent that some people of higher education have developed skills in critical thinking, making them more open to various points of view, there may be a benefit. If those of higher education have greater income and can afford various services (medical care, early intervention, etc.), they may be more fortunate in getting their kids looked at.

However, I see lots of "book smart" people who have no common sense, and I see in some a sense of superiority and entitlement. There are plenty of people who possess advanced degrees who push their kids into endless academic programs at age 2 and over schedule them so they will have a great "resume" to get into top colleges. As a result, they may actually NOT be parenting the kids, or letting the kids actually BE kids. Our colleges are filled with freshmen who have no critical thinking skills, no ability to function independently and make decisions, little ability to manage their time without someone doing it for them, and few social skills in meeting/living with a diverse population found in many dorms.

I think there are plenty of people who haven't had the benefit of formal higher education who are, nonetheless, loving and nurturing and appreciative of the innate charm of their children. Their kids often are more well rounded because they learned to "make do" - to be friendly with whoever lived in the neighborhood, to play creatively with whatever they had available, to read a book in the absence of the latest electronic gadgets.

I see "educated" people who cannot spell, who don't read to their kids, who wouldn't unplug and go on a picnic if their lives depended on it. And I think it creates a barrier, a "them vs. us" mentality that works to divide the various segments of society.

Are their plenty of formally educated people who make their 5 year olds survive without a cell phone, or who insist that their kids have unstructured play dates with the neighbors? Sure. Are there many who do great work in the community, who give generously to share their good fortune with others? Sure. And I celebrate them. But I'm not sure their good work is because of their education per se, but rather the result of their character.

I think there is definitely a correlation but due mostly to resources. Although I come from a family of modest means, I am well educated, having attended a competitive private high school and a private university. That education has granted me the privilege - and practice - of knowing that there are resources out there and the confidence to know that those resources are available to me and my children. I was a single mom when my oldest was born, and as overwhelming as the court and child support system are, my education gave me the tools and resources to navigate them, do my research, and advocate for myself. I never walked into an office or court room and felt like I didn't belong or that the people weren't my equals and partners in solving my problem. When my oldest had some behavior and education issues when he was younger, I had the privilege of coming from a place in life where I knew that I could read books, talk to people, research the web, make appointments with doctors and psychologists and other experts and do what needed to be done to advocate for my child. I often wondered (and still wonder) what happens to the kids of parents who don't have this knowledge and resources. Who don't feel comfortable walking into a book store or library. Who don't know how to comb through lots of information, figure out what's important, and organize it in a way that makes sense. Who feel intimidated by educators and medical professionals. Who work long days doing hard jobs that don't provide any benefits or flexibility. Who even if they knew what to do, don't have the time or money to do it.

Luckily, I now know that there are people out there to connect parents with resources, to educate and advocate with parents of kids in need. One of my friends does this kind of work and helps parents understand their rights, responsibilities, and the systems in place to access resources. But still, there aren't enough people to do this work to catch every family in need, and I know that there are kids out there like my son who haven't fared as well because their parents are overwhelmed and marginalized. Education can change that.

I think the best kind of parents are those with good coping skills who came from supportive homes themselves, and who poses wisdom. I think it goes without saying that high school drop outs probably aren't known for their coping skill and family support. So yes, I do think education level is indicative of better parenting, but education is not causation for better parenting. However, some of the worst permissive parenting I've ever seen came from the highly educated. I once observed a surgeon acquaintance of mine allow her toddler to hit her repeatedly in the face with no consequence. I know its because she has angst about how little time she has with them, so whatever time she does have with them, she doesn't want to spend punishing.
I think good parenting takes wisdom. And wisdom is something money can't buy and something formal education does not automatically give you. However, people who don't better themselves are not wise people. And there I think is a correlation that sometimes undeservingly gets linked to a degree. But in the end, its wisdom not education.

What is your definition of "good?"
Can they take them on a lot of vacations to wonderful places, do they have their own rooms, are they wearing the latest fashion, do they eat out all they time?
Or are they loved? With a parent or parents that are involved with their educaton, after school activities? Who know their kids friends and has their homes open?
I have seen great parents that are like me....high school educated (in college now!), and I have seen miserable parents that are college graduates.
Education does not mean loving.

Kind of a tough question since people have different perceptions of what "good" parenting is.

But to answer your question, among all of the parents that I know, yes, there is a correlation between higher education and what I believe to be good parenting. However, I don't always believe that they're causally related.

I actually don't find higher level education to be a good indicator of what kind of parent a person will be. You can have a master degree And be a genius but be a terrible parent. And you can be a highschool dropout and be the best parent on the planet. Being a good parent means providing not just money, education and opportunity. Those are important. But it is more important for a child to be loved and given a safe, nurturing environment.

Yes and no.

There have always been great parents, long before an educational system was widely available. You will constantly hear about the parent or grandparent who successfully raised x number of kids on a third grade education, and made sure that they all graduated high school and even college.

But then those kids have kids of their own. They show the same devotion to those kids as their parents showed them. They put a focus on education because that is what you need to survive in this world (much like hunting or farming was once necessary). They had learned to persevere in hard times and teach that to their kids.

It is not the education level that makes a good parent. It is that many of the same qualities needed to succeed in school are needed to be a good parent.

Hello,

I agree with Angela's point re: correlation vs causation. I will say one thing. In my experience, it tends to be easier for kids to pursue advanced educations if they're raised in a household where college is an expectation rather than a choice. To be the first generation to go to college in a family history where there's no precident for that could interfere with a person in bridging that gap.

And to be sure I'm clear, I say could not would.

Great question. Have a nice day. S.

i say no. a parents education level does not make a difference. i know a gal that does not have an education higher than 8th grade and she raised 3 children that are all doing very well. she also has 4 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. all of her kids/grandkids are smart, none have ever been in trouble with the law. some of them go to church. and all are easy to get along with. all 3 of her kids own their homes and have jobs that have provided their families with what was necessary for a comfortable life.
i know another gal that barely made it outtsh.s and her kids are a mess. i know numerous people that have graduated college adn their kids are on both ends, some are a mess and the others are doing well...

i think a persons parenting skills are a reflection on how they were raised as children.

Not in my immediate circle, no.

I have friends who are experts in their field of medicine, and then I have friends who never got a college degree. My MIL did not finish high school.

We're somewhere in the middle.

I consider a *good* parent to be available to their children, to be actively involved in their lives (but not too much so), and to love them unconditionally and show them that support.

I don't think an education has anything to do with that.

So long as kids feel loved and secure, and have a healthy environment to grow up in - to me that's what makes good parents. Kids need to feel they are a priority in their parents' lives.

There may be a correlation in terms of their maturity, however, I will say, most of the highly educated couples I know work full time (both parents) and then they hire nannies to watch their kids. I live in a somewhat upscale area (where they can afford to hire a nanny) and it has been very frustrating over my dd's childhood to set up playdates because I'm always dealing with a nanny who cares more about her schedule and convenience rather than the kids. On more than one occasion, I would set something up, and the nanny was a no-show leading to a very upset kid.
I feel that the kids who are raised by nannies are a bit more gruff and harder to get along with....maybe from their sense of abandonment. Of course this is just my opinion, but I definitely prefer for my kid to hang out with the kids with hands-on parents.

Nope. I like Suz's answer.

Not at all. My husband's parents were poor. They didn't even finish elementary school, and his father started working at 8 years old (doing things here and there to earn money). They raised 6 children. They are the most honest, kind, respectful and nice people I have ever met. All of them are engineers (masters, PhD's, etc) but one, who is oral surgeon. Four of them have children, and they are very nice kids, good students, respectful and kind. My husband once told me that he and his siblings wanted to be the best in their careers and become good people to serve others, and do good. He also shared with me that he and his siblings learned lots of things from their mom and dad, and they were the wisest people on earth. I met them, I agree.
He is a wonderful human being I fell in love with, and the most educated gentleman I have ever met. That is my experience, I am sure there are others with different ones.