Family Life Education

Family Programs

Parenting Partnerships, Inc. provides family life education
that strengthens and stabilizes family relationships.

Parenting Partnerships offers a variety of family life education programs - individually and in class or workshop formats. Our classes include a marriage preparation course and parenting classes created to address the changing needs of families. We offer topic-specific workshops and training seminars. More information on workshops and seminars can be viewed under Family/School Partnerships. Information on specific classes is listed below:

PARENTING CLASSES

Somewhere in history people inherited the notion that parenting should come "naturally" and that attending a parenting class or reading a book on parenting was an admission of inadequacy. Fortunately, times are changing and there are many sources of information designed to help parents in the most important job they will ever have. Reading parenting books and attending parenting workshops doesn't provide all the answers, but both help parents be more aware of what may or may not work in their unique family.

What can be learned from interacting with others helps parents enjoy their role as a parent, and promotes confidence in their ability to teach their children self-discipline, responsibility, cooperation, and problem-solving skills. Concepts taught in our parenting classes establish a base that will impact years of parenting.

As children observe and absorb more in their environment, parenting becomes more challenging. Each time children progress through a new stage of development, the dynamics of the family changes. With each challenge new parenting tools and techniques must be developed in order to meet children's growing needs. Parenting Partnerships has incorporated these stages of development into a process that helps parents understand where to focus in order to help their children navigate their stages of growth and maintain a healthy family.

The purpose of these programs is to help parents achieve a better understanding of their children and themselves. Parents are entrusted with a young person's life for a few, very short years. It is a parent's responsibility to provide their children with a positive, healthy environment that teaches appropriate life skills and is filled with love and acceptance. Classes are designed to help parents begin parenting with a long term parenting plan that will help their children learn the skills they need to navigate life's journey.

"Children will see in the eyes of the parents and teachers who raise them,
mirrors in which they discover themselves."
- Dr. William Glasser

Parenting Partnerships offers the following parenting classes:

• Parenting Infants is an 8 hour parenting course created specifically for parents of children birth to two years of age. From a child's earliest moments of life, the decisions made by parents shape his or her future. This class focuses on the basics of infant care, month-by-month infant development, and toddler challenges. The class is designed to be presented in a two-hour format over four weeks. Please check our Calendar for dates and locations of classes.
• Parenting Young Children is an 8 hour parenting course created specifically for parents of children three to six years of age. Children learn through play. Learn more about brain development, behavioral stages and other influences that will affect your parenting. The class is designed to be presented in a two-hour format over four weeks. Please check our Calendar for dates and locations of classes.
• Calm, Confident Parenting is a 12 hour general parenting course that is presented in a two-hour format over six weeks. This interactive, practical, application-based program includes a step-by-step process that guides parents from impulsive parenting (dealing with challenges as they happen) to intentional parenting (using strategies that teach lifelong skills). It assists parents in teaching their children good decision-making skills, effective problem-solving skills, and healthy, effective communication skills. Parents will learn how to minimize power struggles and create a calm, cooperative home. Please check our Calendar for dates and locations of classes.
• Children Caught in the Middle is a four hour co-parenting education and family stabilization course that meets state requirements for mandated co-parenting education. For more detailed information please click here.

All classes include a workbook. All participants receive a completion certificate at the end of the course. All participants are encouraged to complete the workbook and homework assignments between meetings. All courses are taught by Certified Family Life Educators.

"Of all the social influences, the family
has the strongest affect on how children develop."

PARTNERS FOR LIFE - Marriage Preparation Course

A great marriage doesn't just happen; it takes a lot of work. Sometimes this "work" feels like a one-way sacrifice and other times it feels easy and effortless. A marriage relationship is one in which both mates want to be happy, fulfilled and experience success in their relationship with one another, and yet very few couples know how to achieve that harmony.

Research by Dr. Jason Carroll and Dr. William J. Doherty states that couples who participate in premarital programs experience a 30% increase in marital success over those who do not. They report improved communication, better conflict management, higher dedication to one another, greater emphasis on the positive aspects of a relationship and improved overall relationship quality.

Even though this program is designed to be a "marriage preparation" class, it can also help couples begin to build a healthy, lasting marriage. It is an interactive, practical program that includes a step-by-step process that guides couples from impulsive, emotional conflict to intentional, effective communication that strengthens the relationship.

Whether you are just entering marriage or have made the decision to improve your marriage, this course will be helpful to you. This eight hour course is presented in a two-hour format over four weeks. It includes a workbook. All participants receive a completion certificate at the end of the course. All participants are encouraged to complete the workbook and homework assignments between meetings. This course is taught by Certified Family Life Educators and is approved by Twogether in Texas for a discount in your marriage license fee.

Please check our Calendar for dates and locations of classes.

In the near future we hope to have all of these classes online for easy access. Each new class will be highlighted in our Parentalk Newsletter, so sign up today to keep informed.