Free Parenting Classes Aim to Reduce Family Stress

The first time Jipsie Myers got a flyer about the free parenting education classes being offered in her community, she threw it away. “I was skeptical,” said Jipsie, a resident of Bagdad and a mother of three. “My first thought was: no one was going to tell me how to raise my kids.”

 

But other moms in Bagdad kept on asking Jipsie about the classes, so out of curiosity, she decided to go. The class was called “Becoming a Love and Logic Parent,” and would meet weekly for six weeks. The first time the class met, Jipsie crossed her arms and listened.

 

Jipsie has now attended the “Becoming a Love and Logic Parent” series three times. “It’s not about telling you how to raise your kids,” said Jipsie. “After going, I realized that I still need help. No one has parenting down pat.”

 

The class, which is made free for all parents and caregivers of young children because of funding from First Things First, works to give parents the tools they need to reduce stress for their whole family. ‘Becoming a Love and Logic Parent’ focuses on teaching young kids how to make choices, a skill that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. By giving children simple choices, such as deciding between oatmeal and cereal for breakfast, parents can empower their kids and still have control over the options they have. Everyone wins.

 

The ‘Becoming a Love and Logic Parent’ series will be offered from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Prescott YMCA beginning September 5^th and will meet every Tuesday and Thursday until September 24^th. It will also be offered in at Bagdad Elementary School from September 9^th to September 30^th, meeting every Monday and Wednesday from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM.

 

The class is completely free and free child care is available during each class. To sign up, call or email Pam Mayhall at (928) 442-5756 or Pamela.Mayhall@yavapai.us. A calendar of parenting education classes offered in Yavapai County can be found by visiting ParentsAZ.org.