Why Take a Parenting Class?

• Times have changed and our children face more challenges at earlier ages. Children are increasingly subject to negative outside influences, and media and technology leave an indelible imprint on children’s minds and morals at a very early age.
  
  
• We know more about the positive and negative influences on brain development and the importance of establishing healthy patterns and routines at an early age.
  
  
• It is easier to establish healthy family routines early than to undo years of unhealthy or ineffective patterns later on.
  
  
• Research shows that there is a strong link between parent education, parent involvement, and school success.
  
  
• Being a parent never ends. Even parents of adolescents and teens can learn strategies to be more effective.

Two Types of Parenting Classes:

General Parenting Classes

Court-Approved Classes

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General Parenting Classes

2008 Winter-Spring General Parenting Class Schedule (pdf)

General Parenting Class Registration Form (Acrobat PDF)

General Parenting Class Registration Form (MS Word)

Directions (pdf)

For families who want to strengthen their parenting skills, gain insight, and learn effective strategies for managing developmental and behavioral issues of toddlers through teens. Classes provide participants with an opportunity to learn, discuss, and practice new parenting skills in a relaxed setting.

Experienced instructors present relevant information about each topic, facilitate group discussion, and encourage peer support among participants. All classes are three hours long (from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM) and held in the evenings at The Brown Building in Fairfax City, VA and include the following topics:

• Positive Discipline for Preschoolers (Ages 1-4)
• Scream-Free Parenting (Ages 5-16)
• How to Talk So Kids Will Listen, and Listen So Kids Will Talk
• Handling Anger in the Family
• Home Alone: Is Your Child Ready?
• Out of the Loop: Staying Connected to Your Kids While They're Connected to Technology
• Parents on Board: Academic Success Through Parent Involvement
• Too Frazzled for Fun: Resetting Family Priorities

For More Information on General Parenting Classes, including class descriptions, dates, fees, and registration information, contact Andrea Delma at 703-277-2625.

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Court Approved Classes

2008 Court Approved Class Schedule (pdf)

Directions (pdf)

Primarily for families involved in custody, visitation or child support issues, or ordered by the courts to attend a parenting class. The classes provide an opportunity for participants to enhance parenting skills while meeting court requirements. Our instructors are trained professionals who facilitate classes through the use of handouts, videos, and group discussions. Day and evening classes are held each month at The Brown Building in Fairfax, VA and can be scheduled at other sites for groups of 10 or more.

Note: These classes are open to the general public and are often attended by families who are going through transition or encountering specific challenges even though they are not involved in court cases.

Current Class Offerings:

• Co-Parenting: Two Parents, Two Homes (English and Spanish)
• Strengthening Your Parenting Skills (English and Spanish)
• STEP Teen
• Single Parenting
• Step Parenting/Blended Families

Court Approved Class Descriptions (pdf)

For more Information on Court Approved Classes, including dates, fees, and registration, contact Susie Johnson at 703-277-2666.

Para Informacion en Español: for information on Court Approved classes in Spanish, contact Susie Johnson, above, or call our Spanish Line at 703-277-2771.

Direcciones en Español (pdf)

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