While an online parent education class may not meet everyone’s needs, Broadreach’s Active Parenting Now class does seem to help those who are ready, and who are too busy to attend a standard classroom- based class. Some comments from parents who have completed: “This course met my unusual scheduling needs and was quite informative. I liked the scenarios and the helpful ideas/activities which I plan to rely upon routinely.” Another parent told us that “I really enjoyed the course, and felt like I got a lot out of it. I’ve been sharing info with other parents/friends who have talked to me about struggles with their kids at home”.
The class confirms for some parents that their parenting practices are sound and others find areas where they might improve, like the parent who told us: “I can think of several times now after watching these videos that I was unknowingly disrespectful to my son. Now that I am aware of this I will watch what I say to him and the tone I use when speaking with him.” Another parent shared: “I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed this course. It opened my mind to new ideas and gave me confidence in handling difficult situations with my child”.
A couple shared that although they had not been able to complete all of the 6 lessons in the online class in the allotted 60 days “We are actually implementing most of the program, and it has transformed our parenting almost completely. We were pretty desperate and feeling pretty out of control when we met you, and sometimes we still feel that way, but mostly we are empathic with our kids, and we hold family meetings to make decisions. One of the most significant learnings for me was to remain calm and loving with our oldest, though his behavior is really challenging and he doesn’t respond to many traditional parenting techniques.”
Because of grant funding from the Maine Children’s Trust, Broadreach is able to provide this class for free and there are incentives available for those who complete the program.
If you are a parent residing in Waldo or Knox County and are interested in learning about whether participating in this free online parenting class could benefit your family, contact Patrick Walsh, Broadreach, 338-2200 ext 109, or pwalsh@brmaine.org. If you do not currently have Internet access, we may be able to help you find a location to complete the class.