I think you should have to take an I.Q. test to have kids only because of the growing number of kids that are disobedient. If you can't do well enough as a person, what makes you think you can do good enough as a parent?

As the I.Q. test I mean, make one up for Parenting.

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

YES. there should be a lengthy test to decide if a person is fit to be a parent. There are far to many people tehse days who do not know how to raise kids.

roflmfao......I can't believe you did this!
Yes, in some cases, there are those that really need to think twice before procreating....There are 2 families I know of in my area that have several kids ONLY because of the government help they get.....that is no reason to have children.

I agree to a point ... but we can't have sterilization for those that are a little...shall we say... "slower" than the rest of us. It would be too close to what happened in WWII with Hitler and the Ethinic cleansing, but instead done for intelligence reasons. I think the intelligence testing is a good idea, but only to determine if you need to have special training in child rearing... some people are naturals at it, and some have several children and never figure it out.

Also, some unintelligent people might be perfectly good candidates for having children because of the little that they do have, love might be the strongest emotion. Who knows

Parenting is about using your prior life experience to raise your child, I don't see how an pseudo "intelligence" test can tell you if your a fit parent or not.

OMG are you serious. IQ test no. Because people are capable of raising a child whether they are genius or not. Just because a person is slow doesn't mean they are incapable of loving and caring for a child. This really pisses me off.

I mean to say a person who has a reading disability cannot raise a child. That makes me so angry. But whatever it is a person shouldn't have a child if they are unfit.

Dumb and takes good care of child

Smart and rapes and abuses child

HMMM which one?

like I said, if anything, the test should have questions that are geared specifically towards child-rearing... like "what do you do if your child has a fever" and "how do you discipline a child with a potty mouth" or "What types of things to you keep locked away from a child"

common sense to most of us (which means we are the many who qualify to be parents) but if you have problems with simple questions like these... then you ought to reconsider having children. These same people probably have difficulties taking care of themselves as well.

Oh okay sorry. I just feel very strong about this. I mean I don't have a disabilty but my ex husband did. He had dyslexia and other reading comp problems. But I don't know if this test would work. I mean maybe it it was oral.

101

Sorry guys I need to relax a little sometimes.

That's what i ment with my answer, what i thought Kratos was referring too. A test to specify if you are fit to raise a child. Indeed it does not matter how smart you are, smart people are not nessesarily able to raise kids.

And what would be the answer on how would you discipline a child who has a potty mouth?

Who would determine which answer is right everybody would have a different opinion, whether their answer comes from rationalizing the situation, the bible, etc. And you would have to take account the psychology of the child also, not all answers would be right for every child.

An I.Q test for parenting would be the dumbest test ever in my opinion!

Indeed, I know some really unlikely people who are excellent parents and then there are those that "parent by-the-book" and have no clue what they are doing. Parenting is something that is natural or one of those life-changing moments when you're child is born...it does turn even the dimest bulbs into good parents. I doubt Kratos was trying to imply that you need to be a rocket scientist to be a parent. Although, for some, even that wouldn't help.

Yes I totally agree. All children are different. I mean who says a test will be able to determine whether you are fit.

Dumb.

You guys obviously aren't getting it.
It wont be a test about parenting. Obviously non-parents wouldn't know questions about parenting.

It would basically cover qualifications. Like, if you've ever hurt a child before and been arrested for it, things like that.

^ Yep, that is what the test is about. I hate it when people twist my words and I'm the one in the end looking bad.

O.K. but that would be a serious case of lack in freedom, if you are condemned from having your "own children" because of prior crimes, like LilaBurrows said having a child changes your whole out look of life.

How conclusively well could we predict a person with a troubled pass would be the very same person after they "willingly" have a child.

oK, i think you were right in pointing out that the "potty mouth" question would be a bad one, because obviously there are multiple answers... I guess my point would be that if someone responded to that question with
"duct tape their mouth shut"
I would probably assume these people don't know how to handle children...

I don't think personally if a person commited a crime against a child in the past they should ever have the freedom to have their own.
However this isn't a question of criminal intent.

Yes, having a child to SOME changes their life, but not everyone. I knew a couple, both late teens, who were raising a child on wellfare, using half of their child support money to pay for cigarettes and beer, they both smoked around the child and wondered why the child had sever health issues.

Is this a kind of person you see fit to having a child? Someone so idiotic they can't even figure out that smoking would hurt a kid, or that the child needs constant attention? Not me. That's what this fictional test would declare.

There are far too many stupid people raising stupid kids. It should be an application process, where you have to meet a certain amount of minimum requirements to have a child. It should take at least a year for the application process so the people having kids were as sure as can be.

I turned up pregnant at 17....got married and had this fantasy of what it would be like.....it wasn't even close. Thank god I had my mom and several aunts around for support and help. I loved my baby, but I was still a kid, and had a lot to learn in a very short time. I would've passed a parenting test easy, but it was the maturity test I might've failed. I had to re-prioritize my entire life around this helpless infant, and it wasn't easy, but it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I might joke around that my boys drive me crazy, but they are my life and without them I don't know where I would've ended up. Not every 17 year old or even 27 year old and beyond can be a good parent. Just because you have a child doesn't mean you know what you're doing. I'm still learning and it's that willingness to learn that makes me the good (at least I think so) parent that I am.

very nicely put

Now a question I would have to ask is this..
How many people who actually have children think you should have a standard test to take before you can reproduce?
*Hears gales of laughter from parents worldwide*
I can tell you this from past experience, you can be the brightest, nicest, most caring and competant person in the world, and one 2 year-old having a bad day can reduce you to a stressed-out wreck in 5 minutes..
Parenting is a totally learn as you go experience, no matter how ready, willing, or able you think you are..
That said, I agree with BurnSide that anyone who's commited crimes against children shouldn't be allowed to have thier own..
But wouldn't that be more of a background check than a test?

I agree with those that are against the standardized testing to determine right to parent.

I DO, however, thing we should have mandatory, court-ordered sterilization for those who have multiple children on welfare or addicted to drugs or who they don't or can't support in any way. (yup-- father's too).

I don't think you should have to tke a IQ o have kids. Just be caring good job and able to provide for them sounds good to me.

In response to Falco's post: I think a background check could be quite revealing as far as what kind of person the potential parent is.....habitual drug/alcohol users would be a red flag, as would assault charges (this individual might be very quick tempered), point these out, see what the person has to say about it, suggest anger management and de-tox/AA...see how they feel about that. Put them in a (supervised) situation with kids of various ages and temperaments....That might put some off without a question. Others might see how their lifestyle is unsuitable for parenting and should they want children, it might make them see the light, so to speak. Of course, this is a hypothetical situation, and even if it weren't, it would be all too easy to thwart tests such as these. And like most good ideas, there are probably dozens of loopholes and people would slip through the cracks. It's such a shame so many children are born into hopeless situations, and if there was a way to prevent that, this world might be a better place.

High Intelligence is not an indication of quality of parenting! You must be stupid if you think that - or at least not a parent - and perhaps shouldnt be.

However - I think anyone that has been in jail SHOULD be sterilised!

That would be a better solution!

Cheers.

I just wish people would uses a little more common sense when it comes to birth control. If you don't want a baby then don't have one; protect yourself damnit.

My youngest cousin got a girl pregnant and two months after she had her baby guess what, pregnant again. They are on WIC, Medicaid, food stamps and God only knows what else. My father gave them a house to live in and my Aunt pays their utilities. My cousin cant hold a job. His girlfriend had NEVER had a job and now has two babies to raise. They drink beer and smoke pot around their children. Grrrrr.I love those little boys but its a shame the parents don't know what the hell they're doing.

that's a really good idea

TO: Citizen 148-06-4560
FROM: The Omnipotent, Omnipresent State
RE: Parenting Qualifications

Citizen 148-06-4560
It is our duty to inform you that you have failed the State Mandated Parenting Qualification Test. Your intelligence and other factors falls below the required minimum level as dictated by the State (all Hail the State!). You will therefore report to the nearest sterilization center for submission to the procedure required to prevent you from contaminating the gene pool of the glorious State (all hail the State!)

Failure to follow mandated guidelines will result in your immediate arrest and, after a fair and impartial trial, executed for crimes against the State.

Sincerely,
The Glorious State
Have a nice day.

I think the above statement indicates my feelings?

Yes, I think that pretty well sums it up.....

This one got me laughing.

When we had our first child , we were both young and immature.

I said to hubby jokenly " It's a pity we couldn't tape the dummy in Rubies mouth, so she'd stop dropping it."

Hubby was reaching for the tape before I got through to him I was joking and you really can't sticky tape a dummy to a babies mouth.

We're both older now, and I've got to admit his parenting skills have improved a bit.

I totally believe that people should only be allowed to have children if they can demonstrate they will be suitable parents and have the financial security to raise a child.

Then again, I have nil parental instincts and hate children, so who am I to comment?

Why stop there
why not execute anyone who ever goes to jail
and bury them in a big pit outside of town.

becoming a parent is not always a choice

Yes, of course they should..Anyone who's ever been in jail for any reason at all..
We can't have anybody who's ever driven with an expired registration or failed to pay a traffic fine breeding or anything..
Not to mention that we should arbitrarily hold mistakes people make when they're young and wild against them for all time, no matter how much they may change or grow as a person in their later years..

Sorry if that sounded sarcastic and all..

Mmmm... doesn't that open up a whole new can of worms? Is jail to rehabilitate or to get retribution?

To put my ten cents in on this subject, as has been remarked, a lot of pregnancies aren't planned; by this argument, would being that 'careless' disqualify one from being a suitable parent? And if so, what would we do with the results from these 'errors'? When governments start intervening in the lives of their citizens on this kind of personal level, is totalitarianism that far away?

Yes I thought the same it would be a background check.

I totally understand about the 2 yr old. Mine is almost 4 and I have to say I wake up tired and go to bed tired.

But they already do background checks on sperm donors. The thing is a person with good judgement can determine whether or not their mate is capable or sane enough to raise a child with them. Do you understand?

I didn't read all the replies, but my 2 cents:

Though I do agree that people should go through some kind of process if they want to be parents (besides having sex, of course -- because hey, who can't do that?). Too many children are being raised in completely unsuitable homes. It seems as though those who are less fit are having children, while those who would be fit are more concerned with their careers.

The problem would be, how on earth would you prevent people from having kids in the first place? Unless you have everyone sterilized from birth, it'll be a losing battle.

I don't agree with the IQ test but there should be a seriuos application process.

If rape result in preganancy Otherwise it's always a choice.

As for sterilising criminals - there is some evidence that aggression and some other antisocial traits may be genetic. In which case we can breed them out of society

In stead of preventing, perhaps there could be a system of placement? Adoption is always a great answer, My father is adopted and so is my sister... I'm not sure how the logistics of it all would work, but it is at least one answer to the probelm of parenting. Of course this would mean we would need a much more strict and enforcing system of child protective services, but isn't this almost a necessity anyway? We have children right here in the United States living in poverty conditions, while their parents are druggies winos and failures of society, while there are people out there who cannot have children on their own. It seems like we just need to beef up the system we already have in place.

Must admit I find it incomprehensible that on the one hand we have hundreds of people wanting fertility treatment because they can't conceive.........and on the other hundreds of children in deperate need of adoption.

I know it's really simple and obvious, but surely even the authorities ought to have realised the solution by now?

(And if a couple aren't suitable for adopting children, then they must surely equally be unsuitable for having their own children and thus shouldn't be allowed fertility treatment).

good logic Essan

you're right... it seems that the system we have in place should already be taking care of this, but I think this system is abused too much and thus has become weak. Its just so sad to think how many children slip through the cracks because of technicalities and legal issues. The system should not assess the situation based on what is best for the parent, but instead on what is best for the child. Far to often, "biological" rights outweigh the rights of a child. Sad...

I.Q. test no....personality test yes. Some people just should not be aloud to have offspring. I'm talking about the ones of course who abuse and kill their own children. The ones who let their children sit around dirty and hungry. The ones who only have children to collect welfare or childsupport. Give them a personality test and figure out whether they are willing and able to bath and feed and nuture their children. Whether or not they are financially capable, not rich, to supposrt a child instead of being on welfare right from the get go. A child deserves more than just being the bread winner(welfare check) from birth!!!

You're right about the adoption issue ... but there's a very powerful psychological imperative to be able to have children yourself, isn't there? Proving your own fertility; perpetuating the family name and all that... there's a lot of pressure there from all sorts if directions.

Okay point taken on the Jail thing!! I did think about the little offences that get the unfortunate in there, and yes you are right - they still need their balls - of course lol.

But the ones I were referring to where repeat offenders mostly, including junkies.

There are so many kids in the world with parents in Jail. And not much hope for the future. Often these parents dont care enough about their own welfare and create a life full of crap - so why allow them to procreate.

Their kids are raised in an atmosphere of little hope. Yet they are not willing to give up their parental rights either to give the kid a fair chance.

Or if they do get out of jail - they often start another family and do the same crap to them.

So that was my point moreso - than sterilising one off offenders that have done little more than not pay a fine etc......

I am not that moronic - close but not that much!

Cheers.!
lol.

I see where you come from,but I don't think it can be realized.I wouldn't want the government to interfere with my business that way.

There should be another way to deal with the unwanted population of a society.
I vote for my island idea

Too many high I.Q. parents are truly awful people.

These days, some say, parents don't matter anyway. Children born since 1978 or thereabouts all have "indigo auras" and are our superiors in every way, especially Inate Wisdom. It is they who should be raising US. And the children of the Indigo People are even MORE superior. You believe that? If you do, watch some Jaywalkers, a little Jerry Springer, and the news.

Some sort of test for parents prior to procreation would be great, but not in practice I guess. For freedom's sake we're stuck with what we've got.

I read somewhere once about adolescent suicide - they were doing a statistic thing on what jobs their parents held down.

According to that poll

The highest suicide rates in adolescents were the ones with parents that were psychiatrist or psychologists - go figure lmao.

So hmmmmm.

their folks were probably psychoanalyzing them nonstop....poor kids....