Class Descriptions
Casa de los Niños offers a number of classes to help parents and other caregivers understand and interact with their children. Take one class or take them all! Everyone is welcome and all classes are FREE! Please call our Parent Education Coordinator if you have any questions about the classes listed below or if you would like to register for any or all of the classes that catch your interest!
Nurturing Parenting Series
Philosophy of Nurturing Parenting – This class focuses on the basic philosophy used in the Nurturing Parenting Program. Nurturing Parenting is centered by the belief children who are cared for and treated respectfully will treat themselves and others in the same manner.
Ages and Stages of Growth for Infants and Toddlers – The goal is to increase parents’ awareness for appropriate expectations.
Ways to Enhance Positive Brain Development – Parents gain an understanding of the developmental changes occurring in the brains of young children and teens, and things parents can do to improve that development.
Communicating with Respect – Talking with your children doesn’t have to be hard. The key is communicating your thoughts and feelings to your children in a manner that does not purposefully hurt them. This class will help you learn strategies to improve communication with your children.
Raising a Confident Child – How does your child feel about himself or herself? Do you want to learn how to help your child develop good self-esteem?
Understanding Feelings – The focus of this class will be for parents to learn how to understand your children’s feelings and learn the effect your feelings have on your children.
Developing Family Morals, Values and Rules – The focus of this class is for parents to learn the importance of developing family guidelines and linking them to discipline.
Praising Children and their Behavior – This class will focus on the importance of giving praise to children.
Alternatives to Spanking – Parents learn positive guidance techniques and non-violence as a means of discipline with young children.
Positive Ways to Deal with Stress and Anger – Parents learn how to deal with the stress of parenting and help parents learn ways to reduce their stress and their children’s stress.
Active Parenting Series
Session 1 — Communication and Cooperation. Parents are given styles of parenting and how they impact issues such as establishing mutual respect, problem-handling, and cooperation within the family.
Session 2 – Discipline and Responsibility. Parents learn the importance of teaching personal responsibility and implementing effective techniques of discipline. There should be consequences for poor behavior. Family meetings are explored.
Session 3 – Power, Courage and Self-Esteem. Building courage and esteem. Defusing power struggles. Understand the power of encouragement to influence behavior.
Additional Training Topics
Involved Parents: The Key to Success in School
Children benefit greatly when parents take an active role in their child’s education. This class will focus on how parents can get involved in their child’s learning, how to help with homework and ways to get involved in school.
Internet Safety for Parents
The Internet is part of daily life. It is an important way to get information and communicate. However, it is a public place and can be dangerous to our children and teenagers. This class will focus on learning ways to be safe and protect our children from Internet dangers and cyber bullying. We will discuss the importance of acting respectfully and responsibly online.
Parenting to Prevent Bullying
Bullying is a serious problem in our schools today. This class will help parents learn what to do to help your child deal with bullying and learn key social skills that can help prevent young people from becoming victims or bullies.
Managing Your Stress
Stress is the tension you feel with faced with the pressures of daily life, but too much stress can be harmful. This class will focus on learning ways to manage your stress and reducing stress through relaxation techniques. All participants will develop their own stress plan.
Preparing Your Child for Kindergarten
Starting Kindergarten is a milestone in your child’s life. Find out about how to build your child’s skills at home, visiting the school together and getting ready for the first day of school. This class will help you and your child succeed.
