GREENVILLE

Parenting isn’t quite as easy as ABC

Parents of children in Greenville and Reynolds school districts can get some help brushing up on their parenting skills.

The Mercer County Family Center is offering "The ABC’s of parenting ... Approach, Behavior, Communication and Daily Routines" to parents of school-age children. The classes run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Sept. 12, 19 and 26 at the UPMC Horizon Center for Human Services, 60 S. Race St., Greenville.

Jane Culmer, parent education specialist, said she has spent the summer developing the curriculum for the parenting class. She said the center offers help for parents of truant students but saw a need to have a program for parents with questions whose children don’t have truancy problems.

During the first class, Ms. Culmer said the focus will be on different parenting styles and the effect each has on child development. During the behavior class, parents will learn about age-appropriate discipline, Ms. Culmer said. For example, she said it is not beneficial to scream at a 2-year-old or put a 6-year-old in "time out" for an hour.

The communication class will focus on the messages parents send to children when they say certain things -- such as when a mother tells her child she’s too busy, Ms. Culmer said. She said they will also discuss stereotypes of certain age groups such as "the terrible twos" or teen-agers.

Ms. Culmer said during the final class they will discuss daily routines and how they can make things easier. She said she hopes parents will share what schedules have worked well for them.

There will be classes for Sharon and Farrell parents in October at the Stey-Nevant Public Library at Beechwood Avenue and Roemer Boulevard in Farrell. Classes will be held in November at Commodore Perry schools and in January at Jamestown schools.

There is a $30 fee for the ABC program to cover materials. If a family already participates in Family Center activities, the cost is $20. Class size is limited. To register call the Family Center at 588-2404.