The Institute of Child Development and Family Relations at CSUSB offers a variety of research-based parent education courses for parents, parents-to-be, caregivers, those who work with children and families, and other interested individuals. The parenting courses were developed by child development and parenting experts; courses are taught by professionals who have a minimum of a master’s degree. Courses are offered in-person or online. All courses highlight the importance of a secure parent-child attachment relationship and the use of positive child guidance strategies. Participants are provided with copies of course materials and may earn a certificate of completion at the conclusion of the course. The parenting curriculum for each course is based on the most current research on brain development, attachment, parenting, child development, positive child guidance, school readiness/success, and child mental health- all of which have as their centerpiece the critical importance of warm, sensitively-attuned, responsive caregiving for the optimal development and well-being of children and adolescents.
1. Karnig Infant-Toddler Success (KITS) Parenting Course
The Karnig Infant-Toddler Success parenting course is a 9-session (2 hrs. per session) course offered through the San Bernardino City Unified School District since 2016. Targeting families with young children ages 0-3 years in the local district, the course is a research-based initiative designed to increase the school readiness of young children. The focus of the curriculum is, therefore, to help parents create a nurturing, language-rich, and stimulating early environment. Class sessions include short video clips, in-class activities, take-home activities, and free childcare. Classes are offered in English and Spanish. Parents and children receive a light meal and a free children’s book at every class session. Parenting manual included. Visit our website for more information on class schedules & enrollment: https://kitsprogram.org/ or call us at (909) 347-7313.
Session 1: Meet & Greet; Introduction to Course
Session 2: Introduction to Parenting
Session 3: Building Your Child’s Brain: Caregiving as the Foundation
Session 4: Building Your Child’s Brain: Positive Child Guidance (vs. Punishment)
Session 5: Building Your Child’s Brain: Positive Child Guidance (Redirection/Distraction; Setting Limits)
Session 6: Understanding and Responding to Challenging Behaviors
Session 7: Building Your Child’s Brain: “Parent Talk”
Session 8: Building Your Child’s Brain: Reading Aloud to Young Children
Session 9: Building Your Child’s Brain Through Play
2. Fundamentals of Parenting
Fundamentals of Parenting is a 9-session (2 hrs. per session) parent education course that provides parents/caregivers, parents-to-be, and those who work with children and families an overview of the foundations of raising emotionally-healthy children. The information covered in the course is relevant for all ages of children and teens. Topics include how to create a secure parent-child attachment; understanding children’s needs, development, and behavior; the effects of using punishment vs. positive child guidance strategies to guide and manage child behavior; and effective positive guidance strategies to use when a child has a problem/need or you need to set a limit or gain children’s cooperation. The material and guidance strategies taught in this course simultaneously support children’s brain development, language skills, reasoning abilities, social-emotional development, positive mental health, and school readiness/success. The goals of the course include developing a positive and nurturing relationship between parents and their children; increasing parents’ understanding of their children and child behavior; providing parents with effective skills in guiding their children; and promoting the optimal development of children, including their mental health. Parenting manual included.
Session 1: Introduction to Course
Session 2: Introduction to Parenting
Session 3: Secure Attachment: The Foundation of Parenting
Session 4: Let’s Talk About Development!
Session 5: Understanding Child Behavior
Session 6: Guidance and Discipline: Punishment vs. Positive Child Guidance
Session 7: Foundations of Positive Child Guidance
Session 8: Positive Child Guidance: When Child Has a Problem or Need
Session 9: Positive Child Guidance: Setting Limits and Getting Kids to Cooperate
3. Parenting Young Children (0-5 yrs.)
Parenting Young Children (0-5 yrs.) is a 9-session (2 hrs. per session) course which provides participants with a general understanding of young children, positive child guidance strategies, and ways to support children’s development-- including readiness to start and succeed in school. Participants will learn about the importance of early attachment and other key psychological needs of children. A review of early brain development and developmental milestones assists participants in understanding children’s behavior at different ages, as well as supportive ways to respond. Participants will also learn effective, positive guidance skills for interacting with and guiding children’s behavior, including setting limits and getting children to cooperate. The importance of play and a rich language environment to support overall development, learning, and school readiness/success are also coered. The significance of the first five years of life is highlighted throughout. Parenting manual included.
Session 1: Meet and Greet, Introduction to Course
Session 2: Introduction to Parenting
Session 3: Early Brain Development!
Session 4: Understanding Children’s Behavior
Session 5: Child Development (0-5 yrs.): Milestones, Key Needs, & Guidance Tips
Session 6: Guidance and Discipline: Punishment vs. Positive Child Guidance
Session 7: Using Positive Child Guidance to Set Limits and Gain Cooperation
Session 8: Supporting Early Development with a Rich Language Environment: “Parent Talk” and
Reading Aloud
Session 9: How Children Learn through Play; Importance of Early Childhood Education; Helping Your
Child Get Ready for Kindergarten
COMING SOON:
4. Parenting School-Aged Children (5-12 yrs.)
Parenting School-Aged Children is a 9-session (2 hrs. per session) course that provides participants with an understanding of the elementary school-aged child, their key needs, and guidance tips. Participants will learn about the school-aged child’s development (e.g., typical brain, cognitive, language, social, and emotional development) during these years. Children’s basic (psychological) needs, and the ways parents and caregivers can best meet these needs, are also discussed. Participants will also learn effective, positive guidance skills for interacting with and guiding children’s behavior, including setting limits and getting children to cooperate. Ways to support children’s development, including their school readiness and school success are also covered. The importance of a secure attachment is highlighted throughout.
5. Parenting Adolescents (12-18 yrs.)
Parenting Adolescents is a 9-session (2 hrs. per session) course that provides participants with an understanding of teens, their key needs, and guidance tips. Parenting teens is a challenge for many families. The goal of this course is to help parents, caregivers, and others understand the many developmental changes (and challenges) occurring during these years, and learn ways to best support teens to help them thrive. Participants will learn about typical physical, brain, cognitive, social, emotional, and self development during these years. Teens’ fundamental psychological needs, and the ways parents and caregivers can best meet these needs, is also reviewed. Positive guidance skills for interacting with and guiding teens (including setting limits and getting teens to cooperate) are discussed.
6. Parenting Your Autistic/Neurodivergent Child
Parenting Your Autistic/Neurodivergent Child is a 9-session (2 hrs. per session) research-based course designed for parents, caregivers, and others who works with children who are autistic, have ADHD, or are otherwise neurodivergent (including learning disabled or gifted). The goal of the course for participants is to learn strengths-based approaches to understanding the unique brains and behaviors of neurodiverse children. The course will assist participants in understanding and appropriately guiding their children, and help them help their child build effective communication skills. Positive guidance skills for interacting with and guiding children (including setting limits and gaining cooperation) will also be discussed. Throughout the course, the focus will be on the parent-child attachment relationship and the child’s individual needs. Participants will also discover how to best support their child in developing the skills needed for success in school and life. Tips on navigating special education will also be included. Parents and caregivers will be able to share concerns and successes with other families who understand. A children’s program concurrent with the parenting class will provide a safe and caring program for children staffed by college students trained in positive child guidance and communication strategies.