Bringing parents and children together

Parenting is a full-time job and one that doesn’t come with an instruction manual. Many parents learn by experience how to raise and discipline children. But other parents have no idea know where to begin or how to correct negative parenting techniques they learned.

Family Services offers parents relief from the uncertainty and anxiety of raising children through its parenting classes, which help parents improve their parenting skills and foster healthy relationships. Classes instruct parents on how to cope with family stresses, communicate effectively and teach children responsibility.

In one recent class, Carlos Gutierrez, Family Life Skills Specialist, facilitated a parenting group through a collaboration with YMCA – Cassaboom and Willow Creek Community Center. Fifteen (15) families participated in the program, which combined parent education with sports activities to strengthen and enrich family relationships by teaching them how to develop positive and effective communication and nurturing skills.

The education component of the program consisted of topics such as communication, discipline, family values and alcohol, tobacco and HIV prevention.

Parents were divided into teams and researched one of the topics, prepared a report based on their research and presented it to the other parents. These presentations helped the parents explore their potential for public speaking and leadership roles, improve their self-esteem and assist their children with homework.

In addition, the parents and children participated in sports activities together including basketball, swimming and soccer, in order to help them develop strategies as a team and solve problems as a family. When it was the parents’ turn to compete in the activities, their children served as cheerleaders on the sidelines.

Parents improved their parenting skills and families developed closer and stronger bonds. Through fun and educational activities, they are better prepared to tackle problems and overcome obstacles in the future so that they can lead successful and productive lives.