New mothers, especially teenagers, can learn a lot about parenting skills simply from watching and interacting with their infant, according to experts from the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago.
"We like to think of babies as ‘ordinary miracles,’" said Victor Bernstein, a research associate with the school. "Mothers are not only important to their kids, but kids are really important to their mothers."
Bernstein and other experts at the school have done extensive research on the needs of new mothers, as part of an educational program that trains social workers for home visits with first-time mothers – especially unwed teens who may not have the necessary support from family or a significant other.
"A central component of the home visitor’s role is to help the parent interpret the meaning of the child’s behavior," noted Bernstein.
For example, in asking for permission to pick up the baby, the social worker would ask the mother to call out the child’s name, and then watch as the baby turns to her voice, Bernstein said. This real-life experience shows a young mother the importance of talking to her infant, much more effectively than any discussion ever could.
Adds Sydney Hans, professor at the University of Chicago: "My own research has shown that for many young women, becoming a mother is a positive life experience. They realize they have accepted an important responsibility and take steps to ensure that they will be able to support themselves and their children in the future."