Free education classes offered at Madison Education Center

REXBURG, IDAHO

Participating parents, as well as children will benefit from the free parenting classes offered by the Madison School and Sugar Salem School District. 

Classes such as The Informative Years, and Positive Discipline are offered in five week segments, with classes held in two hour sessions on Wednesdays and Thursdays.  Free childcare is available for children one year and up to help parents experience a positive learning environment.  The parenting classes were created to help others learn “long-term parenting skills that incorporate kindness and firmness into parenting, help to get to the core of children’s misbehavior, bring more joy into the home, and give parents a sense of accomplishment.” 

Different form a traditional class, the Positive Discipline Class is structured more as a “Parents Anonymous” where parents can come with real, specific parenting problems happening in their lives.

“I’ve noticed that the no yelling signs are a good reminder for me… I love it that Mom is in charge now,” said Lindsay, a participating class member.

The course Positive Discipline classes were developed by Jane Nelsen and Lynn Lott, authors of the best-selling Positive Discipline books.  Positive Discipline classes are taught in schools by Certified Positive Discipline Associates.

Kavi Branham, who currently teaches the course at the Madison Education Center, said he had to go through a 16-hour training course with supplemental follow-up in order to become certified.  Branham who works for the Madison School District has been teaching the parenting courses for more than a year.

The current Positive Discipline class has six students; individuals and couples who bring specific, real-life parenting problems such as, talking back and lack of respect, hitting, lying, yelling, and not finishing chores. 

Branham takes a facilitator role while holding classmates responsible for specific tasks practiced during the week.

“Ok class, without telling too many specific details, how were your Family Meetings this week? Said Branham.

Family Meetings are a tool learned in Positive Discipline class to have positive communication to solve family problems together using prescribed steps.

Many class members shared that they had tried to have a Family Meeting during the past week, but that oftentimes they took longer than the allotted 10-15 minutes.

Much of class time is spent role playing, while using specific issues parents were struggling with throughout the week. 

The last parenting classes end February 28, with new classes such as Love and Logic starting in April. 

Spanish Parenting Classes will begin March 12 at 7 p.m.