Parenting education program gives new insight on parenting
By Kathryn Jacewicz , Brunswick Beacon, 11/17/09

Jennifer Carter wanted to join the Parenting Education Program offered by Communities in Schools of Brunswick County Inc. (CIS) to gain insight on how to parent.

“It interested me because anything that’s going to give me advice on being a parent, I’m sure going to take it,” she said.

The Parenting Education Program is a 12-week program free for all families to take together. Parents and children meet with trained facilitators separately and learn parenting, life and family skills.

“With the parents we work on promoting positive behaviors in children,” Linda Perry, parenting education director, said.

Parents also learn how to give affective praise, tangible rewards, setting clear limits and ignoring negative behaviors.

Children learn how to praise each other, empathy, discuss daily routines and the importance of families and values.

Perry said the program is geared toward parents with school-aged children, but the lessons taught to parents will be beneficial.

“We tell them, ‘Ultimately down the road, you’re going to use these tools,’” she said.

Carter attended the program with her then 5-year-old daughter, Rebecca. She said the program made her realize the importance of spending time with her daughter every day to play a game or enjoy an activity together.

“I think every new parent and parent that is a parent already should take the class,” she said. “We learned so much from it that I would be willing to do it again. What I really like about it, too, was that you were able to bring the children, and they worked with the children as well as the parents.”

Michelle Linnartz also took the parenting program with her daughter, Cheyenne.

“I have a teenage daughter and just needed some help with everyday issues with children, and I thought that would at least give me some insight to things,” she said.

The biggest lesson Linnartz took from the program was not every issue is a big issue.

“I think I was taking on everything,” she said. “Tackle the big issues, and small issues don’t have to be addressed. That made a big difference for me.”

Linnartz said the lesson about ignoring negative behavior has made a huge difference in her family.

“You discuss with your child the behavior you’re going to ignore,” she said. “That has been huge for us. It has stopped arguments completely.”

Having Cheyenne attend the program gave the two something to do together and helped open up communication between them.

“She and I were able to discuss what we learned,” Linnartz said. “I can’t imagine that we would be where we are now if I had not taken that class.”

The Parenting Education Program was implemented three years ago with seed money from Brunswick County commissioners, Perry said.

“The commissioners saw the need there,” Perry said.

The program gets referrals from the Department of Social Services, but it is open to all parents at no cost. Start dates for the next session are Jan. 5 at Shallotte Presbyterian Church and Jan. 6 at the Leland Family Resource Center.

“I think that a lot more parent really need to take it because it really is truly a good program,” Carter said. “There’s a lot of parents now a days that really, really need it. It kind of gives you a different outlook as to what being a parent is all about.”

For more information on the Parenting Education Program, call Perry at 253-8221.