The dictionary defines parenting as simply the act of rearing a child and/or the state of being a parent. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/parenting The true meaning of the word and the act of parenting itself however, are not so simple and clean cut. To parent is not only to provide for the physical needs of a child such as food and shelter, but to also provide the emotional and educational needs of a child to raise an intelligent, well-adjusted, productive member of society. http://www.whatisparenting.com/

This guide on how to parent is not step-by-step instructions to tell you how to raise such a member of society. The only steps found in a parent’s life flip with the pages of the calendar as the child ages. No person, agency, expert, science, nor guide can instruct a parent how to raise a child. This guide will provide the necessary information to write your own guide to parenting in the form of a wealth of guides on all the subjects parenting entails.

The basic stages of a child’s life are broken up into the three steps of this guide. Within each, you will find relevant and helpful introductions to full guides on parenting subjects. Anytime a guide is mentioned it can be reached by clicking the title on this page. Be sure to check back regularly, as new guides will be added over time.

A child’s life begins at birth. Generally, for the first month of life a baby is referred to as a newborn and a baby thereafter. Newborn babies require constant care despite doing little more than eating, filling diapers and sleeping. As the newborn ages it will add crawling, communicating and playing to this routine.http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=newborn

As eating is a primary need of even newborns, the first guide introduced here will be on how to feed a baby. This guide will cover the various methods to feed a baby and then a toddler including how much, how often and the nutritional requirements involved.

Here are a few more guides you may find helpful on food and feeding a family or child:

How to Feed Your Family on a Budget], Meal Planning, How to Deal with Picky Eaters, How to Make Baby Food, How to Burp a Baby, How to Make Burp Cloths

The second need of a newborn is diaper removal. In this guide on how to diaper, the entire diapering process will be covered including choosing a type of diaper for your baby. Right along with diapering comes general hygiene care. Bathing is particularly important to a child. How to give a baby a bath covers this topic.

Here are a few more guides you may find helpful on diapering and hygiene:

How to Treat Diaper Rash, How to Save Money on Diapers, How to Use Cloth Diapers, How to Make Your Own Baby Wipes, How to Clip a Baby’s Fingernails, How to Dress a Baby

The final primary need of a newborn is sleep. This guide on how to put a baby to sleep will cover the process involved in putting a baby down for bed. This guide on how to get a baby to sleep through the night will help you keep it there.

As well as caring for the newborn or baby, you will need to house and protect it. You may find these guides useful:

Once your child turns one, it is considered a toddler until about age three when the broad term "child" applies. http://www.thecmr.com/The-CMR/Preconception/Glossary-of-Baby-Related-Terms.html Just before or after toddler-hood is when parenting takes a step up. By age one, a child can not only walk, but has also made vast leaps mentally allowing him/her to do far more.

This ability to do more brings this us to the first guide a parent of a toddler needs, How to Disciple a Child. This guide will offer advice and tips on how to teach your child to listen so it can be safe and you can be sane. You may also find How to Talk to Your Kids and How to Increase a Child's Attention span helpful to your disciplinary ambitions.

Speaking of firsts, you as a parent also have or will be experiencing birthdays from now on. Here are a few years worth of party guides: How to Plan a Birthday Party for a 1 Year Old (You can find 12 full years in the related pages of this first year guide.)

Now that your child is old enough to remember, the real education begins as well. What you teach your child will rely on your personal choice. Here are few guides related to teaching as a parent and keeping your child entertained:

Educational: How to Teach a Child to Read, How to Teach Letters, How to Stop Thumb Sucking, How to Wean a Baby onto Solid Foods,How to Boost Children's Self Esteem

Entertainment: Kids Games, Toys, How to Play Uno, How to Play Battleship, How to Play Snakes and Ladders, How to Play Trouble

Toddler-hood also generally means an end to diapers. Here is a guide on How to Potty Train

Once a child gets older, new obstacles are introduced as the child goes out into the world and interacts with others. School in particular is a huge step in a child’s life.

Here are some school and social-related how to guides:

How to Get Kids to Do Homework, How to Save Money on School Lunch, How to Deal with Bullies, How to Talk to Your Child about Sex, How to Throw a Graduation Party, How to Teach Phonics, How to Monitor a Teens Facebook Page, How to Choose High School Graduation Gifts

By time your child is a teen, you likely have taught yourself more about parenting than any guide can teach you. Remember that a teen is nearly an adult and though your child will always be your child, now is time to treat them like an adult. The majority of how to parent is, and should be learned through, trial, error, and experience. As long as you love your child, there is no right or wrong way to parent. Overall, follow your instinct and your heart.