The pros and cons of learning parenting skills online.

For first-time parents, most experience anxieties and pressures. Besides seeking knowledge from books, magazines, and doctors, they also turn to social media, where numerous groups share information on this topic.

Providing parents with a wealth of useful knowledge on raising children.
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Ms. Tran Thu Hang (residing in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City) recounted that during the early days of caring for her child, thanks to helpful online groups on social media, she was able to learn from experienced mothers about breastfeeding techniques, choosing healthy foods for her child, and especially easily recognizing common childhood illnesses.

Besides worrying about their children's eating, sleeping, and resting habits, many parents also turn to parenting groups to learn about and update themselves on new educational trends, or to see how other families raise their children and apply those methods.

Sharing her thoughts on the issue, Dr. Pham Thi Thuy (Psychologist) said: “Updating information online has great benefits, with most parents habitually going online to search for information on childcare and parenting. However, many people lack experience and even proper expertise but share very subjective opinions on how to raise children, not to mention groups that exploit people's needs for illicit profit.”

Many parents also turn to parenting groups to learn about and stay updated on new educational trends.

In reality, choosing to share and learn information in online social media groups carries many risks. First, there's the risk of losing money and getting counterfeit products. Because of trust and purchases based on recommendations, many members impersonate legitimate sellers, offering products of questionable quality and origin.

Furthermore, choosing the wrong parenting methods or following trends is also a cause for concern when parents go online to learn how to raise their children. Not all children are the same, and indiscriminate parenting that doesn't take into account a child's personality, abilities, and interests will not only fail to yield results but will also put more pressure on the child.

The advice for parents is that when choosing an educational program, they should carefully consider the program's goals and analyze whether their child's characteristics are suitable for that program.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen (Principal of BCIS Canadian International Bilingual School) stated that parents easily fall into a trap: the fear of missing out. They worry their children will be left behind if other children are studying while their own are. Chasing trends without considering their child's individual characteristics leads to wasted money and time. The advice for parents is to carefully consider the program's objectives and analyze whether it aligns with their child's specific needs.

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