Moms Christine, left, and Kirsten comfort their baby boys, Nixon and Sammy as nap time approaches at the Pasadena Christian Church on Aug. 30.
Free parenting classes will be offered this fall through the Community Education Center.
The classes are taught by certified instructors that have backgrounds in marriage and family counseling and child development, according to Gia Blount, director of the program. Class time includes creative play, music and movement, and snack time, according to Blount.
The classes are split up into age groups, such as infant, toddler, and ages 2, 3 and four. The infant and toddler classes are further divided into groups of six month increments, such as 0-6 months, 7-12 months, and so forth. A family is eligible to take up to 2 classes. There are also dads-only, bilingual, and court-mandated classes, according to Blount.
Guiding her class through story time at the Pasadena Christian Center instructor Maribeth Henry sits in front of the class explaining the do’s and don’ts on Aug. 30.
The classes are integrated and designed so that the students will be observing and interacting with their children. The class educates parents on different stages in a child’s development.
“What makes these classes unique is that they are designed for both the parents and the children,†said Blount.
The parenting classes are aimed at young or inexperienced parents, though any student with a child 4 and under may enroll. “We even had one couple say that the class saved their marriage, it really put things into perspective for them,†Blount said.
Classes are offered during the fall and spring semester at PCC at various locations in the Pasadena area including Altadena, South Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Temple City and Arcadia. The program is in its 79th year, according to Blount.
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