Variety of parent education classes to be offered in March

The Student Support Services department of the Poway Unified School District, Caring Connections Center and Jewish Family Services of San Diego are teaming up to offer a variety of parenting education classes in March.

This month, parents can learn how to use Second Step to give their kids the skills they need for academic and social success, learn how to actively parent teens, learn positive parenting skills and more.

Want to give your kids a leg up with their academic and social skills? “Parenting with Second Step: Skills for Academic and Social Success at Home!” will use the Second Step program to give you the tools to use at home to teach your children empathy, emotion-management, and problem-solving skills.

Classes are available from 6 to 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3, 10, 17 and 25 at Stone Ranch Elementary School or Tuesday, April 21 and 28 and May 5 and 12 at Chaparral Elementary School if you can’t make the class in March.

For those parents who want to learn how to better handle their teens, “Active Parenting of Teens” is also beginning a four-class series in March. Each session shows parents how to handle sensitive issues such as drugs, sexuality and peer pressure, as well as effective discipline, communication and how to teach responsibility.

There are two nights available for this class series. The Wednesday night classes are 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. March 4, 11, 18 and 25 at Mesa Verde Middle School and the Thursday night classes are 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. March 5, 12, 19 and 26 at Black Mountain Middle School.

A minimum of 20 participants are required for classes to be held.

Register online at www.theparentworkshops.com. Class series are $54 for an individual or $84 for a couple (cost includes $15 book). Free childcare and scholarship opportunities may be available at some sites. For more information on a class series, call 858-668-4084.

The free “Positive Parenting Program,” which will include free childcare, is intended to help parents gain confidence in managing their child’s behavior, encourage respect and cooperation in children, reduce anxiety and stress as a parent, and enhance the family to school connection.

The program will be offered at two locations around the district, from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, Thursday, March 19 and Tuesday, March 24 at Valley Elementary School. A second series will be held in late April and early May. The program at Valley Elementary will be in both English and Spanish.

To make reservations to attend, call 858-668-4084. For more information on the Positive Parenting Program, visit www.jfssd.org/positiveparenting.

Caring Connections Center is also offering free parenting workshops. The first, “Mindful Parenting for Your Child’s Success,” by Pilar Placone, Ph.D., is being held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 19 at the Caring Connections Center, 13626 Twin Peaks Road Bldg# 300, Poway. Registration is advance is recommended, call 858-668-4084 to register.

For more information on these and other upcoming parenting education classes, visit www.powayusd.com/depts/student_support/activeparenting.shtml.