PARENT EDUCATION + SUPPORT
Parent Ed 2.0
One thing has gotten easier during the pandemic By Annie Garrett, M.Ed. As a first-time parent in 2017, I found that returning to work after my parental leave meant parting ways with more than just my infant. It also meant leaving behind my parenting support group and the parentinfant programs we participated in. I yearned to return to the parenting group, but my work schedule wouldn’t allow for it.
currently offered online. … Parents build community and participate in activities designed to help them understand themselves, deepen an understanding of their children, and bring more peace and joy into the home.”
Fast-forward to summer 2020. I’m working from home and decide to spend my lunch hour each Monday in an online parenting course through Hand in Hand Parenting (handinhandparenting.org). It was like having a blood transfusion. In a matter of weeks, my relationship with my daughter and my confidence as a parent feel restored.
Pricing: While most are fee-based, some workshops are free. Sound Discipline often partners with local organizations that will cover costs so that its members may attend for free.
Fast-forward another year, and my son is born. The parenting programs I’d had to abandon upon returning to work in 2017 are now available to us fully online, and research says this modality is just as effective as in-person classes. Talk about a pandemic silver lining! But that’s not all. More options have opened up at low or no cost; Program for Early Parent Support (PEPS; peps.org), for example, now has a wonderfully simplified sliding-scale pay structure and offers programming for parents of teens as well as affinity groups for LGBTQ parents, single parents and others. Programs that lead with racial equity, such as Families of Color Seattle (focseattle.org), are finally out at the forefront where they belong. And longestablished institutions such as the University of Washington (ccfwb.uw.edu) are spinning out events (many of them for free) that better represent the broader community. Here is a roundup of new offerings from local leaders in parent education: Sound Discipline • sounddiscipline.org In its own words: “Sound Discipline offers parenting workshops in a relaxing, fun environment. All of our parenting workshops are
Online options: Most workshops/events are currently offered online.
The workshop recommendation of workshop recommendations: “Teaching Parenting the Positive Discipline Way” is a renowned workshop with an international following. Age range: Relevant for parents of children ages 0–18 Testimonials: “I think this is the only parenting class I have taken where I felt empowered and not riddled with guilt afterward.” UW Center for Child and Family Well-Being • ccfwb.uw.edu In its own words: “We are committed to serving as a resource and partner in promoting the well-being of children and families through evidence-based programs, workshops and courses.” Online options: Most workshops and events are currently offered on Zoom. Pricing: Drop-in sessions are free and open to the public. See the full list on the website. Age ranges: Varies by event/workshop. Some workshops cover topics related to parenting children and teens, while others are oriented toward parental self-care and education. Retreat-like topics: I’m breathing easier just reading the titles of these workshops: “Nature & Nurturing: Parenting With Your 47
