By Kathy Chaffin
kchaffin@salisburypost.com
Smart Start Rowan and the Adolescent and Family Enrichment Council of Rowan County will be offering two new parenting courses next year.
Titled “The Strengthening Families Program” and “The Incredible Years,” the courses will include a weekly class for 14 consecutive weeks.
Holly Morrow, Smart Start Rowan’s family life education coordinator, said the courses are free and are being offered in lieu of the former nurturing parenting classes.
A meal will be provided as part of each class, and free transportation may be arranged with 48-hour notice. The agency also will provide limited child care for children younger than 3.
Morrow said meals are included because the classes will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m., which conflicts with most families’ dinner meal time. “We think if we offer them a nice meal, they can just pick their children up and come straight to class,” she said.
The Strengthening Families Program is for parents of children ages 3-5 (pre-kindergarten) and their children. The program ó which includes separate and combined activities for parents and children ó is designed to teach parents about stress management techniques, effective rewards, family problem solving and building and using behavior programs.
Children will learn better coping and communication skills and how to improve their behavior and solve problems.
Funded by Smart Start Rowan and sponsored by the Adolescent and Family Enrichment Council of Rowan County, the course will be offered on Tuesdays at the Partners in Learning Child Development Center on the Catawba College campus, 2300 W. Innes St., beginning Jan. 6 and ending April 7. Participants will have a chance to win children’s educational prizes.
Morrow said families referred by the courts or served by the Rowan County Department of Social Services will receive first priority, but other slots will be open to the public.
The second course ó “The Incredible Years” ó is totally self-referred, she said, and will be offered in English and Spanish at two separate locations. The course is designed for parents of children ages 2 to 5 with challenging behavior.
Designed to promote positive parenting and to assist parents with managing children’s behavior problems, the course will address play, positive reinforcement, non-physical discipline alternatives, problem solving and effective communication skills and train parents to help their children learn.
Drawings will be held at each class for children’s educational prizes.
The English course will be held at The Inn, 1012 Mooresville Highway, on Wednesdays beginning Jan. 7 and ending April 8.
The same course will be offered in Spanish on Tuesdays beginning on Jan. 27 at Dayspring Presbyterian Church, 3875 Statesville Blvd.
Pre-registration is required for all three courses. To pre-register or for more information, call Holly Morrow at Smart Start Rowan, 704-630-0481, ext. 208.