This learning guide is designed to connect personal, family, and job responsibilities for adults and out-of-school youth in economically depressed areas of the state (including transitional ex-offenders and corrections populations) so that these individuals learn to manage and balance these aspects of their lives in order to prepare for or continue successful employment. This learning guide contains four competency units that provide information on parenting skills for parents of school-age children. The competency units cover the following topics: (1) the nurturing roles and responsibilities of parents; (2) expectations for the physical, mental, emotional, and social development of school-age children; (3) ways to foster social, emotional, motor, intellectual, and language development for this age group; and (4) positive techniques for relating to and guiding school-age children. Each competency unit consists of learner outcomes, key ideas, definitions, teaching strategies and methods, and suggested learning activities. Eighteen supplements include information and activity sheets on the following: self-esteem; parenting roles in the parents' lives; building self-confidence; developmental expectations of school-age children; parents' view of children; helping children develop; children's motivators; general things you can do for a child; television for children; parents' attitudes; reactions to children's behavior; verbal messages; discipline or punishment; building confidence; children's actions and caregiver's reactions; and setting limits for children. A bibliography lists 36 references. The Illinois goals for world-class education for the 21st century also are included. (KC)