Dear ROWUSD Parents, Caregivers, and Community Members, 
We are excited to invite parents and caregivers in our school district and community to participate in the upcoming Parenting Classes offered via Zoom. These sessions are designed to help families gain a deeper understanding of child behavior and development and to provide practical tools they can use at home immediately. 

During these classes, parents will learn, 
Why are the early years critical to a child's development?
How parenting styles influence behavior and long-term outcomes,
The importance of strong parent-child attachment,
Positive and practical child guidance strategies that build connection and confidence,

Whether you are parenting young children or want to strengthen your skills and understanding, these classes offer valuable encouragement and support in a welcoming virtual environment.
Registration is required, and participation is open to all parents and caregivers in our district and community. 
This is a great opportunity to learn, grow, and connect with other families as we work together to support the healthy development of our children. 

Page: Free Parenting Classes! Science of Parenting: Parenting Young Children, nine weekly sessions. Mondays 5:30 - 7:30 pm. January 12th - March 30th, (No class on 1/19, 2/9, or 2/16), on Zoom. This parenting course helps parents, caregivers, and other interested individuals create a nurturing, supportive, and language-rich environment to promote healthy development and school readiness. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of child behavior and development, and learn: 1) why the early years are so critical to development, 2) why parenting styles matter, 3) the importance of a secure parent-child attachment, and 4) effective positive child guidance skills. Classes include: 1) Live instruction with a trained parent educator, 2) Parenting manual, 3) Access to class materials on Google Classroom, and 4) Graduates receive a certificate of completion. Course materials applies to children of all ages.  Parent Educator: Crystal Coleman, MA. 
To register, please use the QR code below or email Rhiannon.Ramkissoon@csusb.edu, or use the link:https://csusb.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_02IkLaiH2z1aige
Page: 10-Session Course Overview:
Session 1: Introduction to Course-This introductory session provides a general overview of the course, important information about the class, and a discussion of parent stress. 
Session 2: Introduction to Parenting-We discuss why parenting is so essential andhow parent education can assist parents and caregivers in this most critical role. Key findings from research on parenting, as discussed, include how parenting style affects children's development and basic psychological needs. 
Session 3-Attachment: The Foundation of Parenting- We discuss the importance of a secure parent-child attachment relationship; this is a child's most basic psychological need. "Sensetiveattunement" is highlighted (which refers to a caregiver being aware of and responsive to a child's emotional state) as it plays a key role in the development of a secure attachment. 
Session 4: Responding to Children's Feelings; Early Brain Development-We discuss strategies for responding to children's feelings, highlighting 'active listening'. We next discuss early brain development, including its implications for caregiving and for understanding children's behavior. 
Session 5: Child Development: Milestones, Key Needs, Guidance Tips: We discuss child development, including development milestones, key needs, and guidance tips for parenting infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children. 
Session 6: Understanding Child Behavior; Responding to Challenging Behaviors-This session provides parents with a deeper understanding of child behavior and strategies for responding to challenging behaviors. We discuss how challenging behaviors are a child's communication that they are having a hard time and need our help.
Session 7: Guidance and Discipline: Punishment vs. Positive Child Guidance-We discuss research findings on the use of traditional punishments vs. 'positive child guidance', including how each affects children's development, behavior, and mental health. We then discuss the basic foundations of positive child guidance.
Session 8:Positive Child Guidance: Setting Limits; Getting Kids to Cooperate-We discuss positive guidance strategies for setting limits, getting children to cooperate, and guiding child behavior.  These practical, developmentally appropriate strategies support children's brain development, thinking and reasoning, language development, and social-emotional development. 
Session 9: Building Your Child's Brain: "Parent Talk"-A rich language environment during the first 3 years of lifeis critical for healthy brain development, school readiness, and school success. This session focuses on how to provide lots of 'parent talk' for young children. A fun parent-child 'making Play-Doh' activity concludes the session. 
Session 10: Building Your Child's Brain: Reading Aloud; Play-We discuss why reading aloud to young children from early infancy on is vital for early development. Suggestions for what and how to read, as well as other ways to support early literacy, are reviewed. Next, we discuss the importance of play for healthy development and provide guidelines for adults on supporting children's play. This session concludes with graduation!