Child Care Aware of River Valley offers free classes for parents, caregivers

Aug. 03--It's true that babies don't come with an operator's manual, but there are ways that parents can better equip themselves to help ensure safer, more enjoyable experiences for themselves and their young ones, according to one official.

Parents can better prepare themselves by participating in free parenting classes that are offered from 10 a.m. to noon Thursdays, except during weeks with a holiday, at Child Care Aware of River Valley, 7200 Mahogany Ave., said Erica Holland, project coordinator for Child Care Aware of River Valley. The classes cover various topics each week, including anger in young children, appropriate activities for toddlers and infants, baby basics, managing tantrums and meltdowns, growth and development, SIDS/shaken baby, divorce, parenting stress and more, she said.

"The topics are based on the needs we hear about and what we feel parents would benefit from the most," Holland said. "We might have a class of one person, which makes it very individualized, and we might have a class later of 20 or more people. It just varies depending on topics, the people and, sometimes, the weather."

The classes are interactive and will occasionally feature a guest speaker; Child Care Aware representatives usually teach the classes and always encourage parents to participate and ask questions, she said. The classes take place in the training space inside Child Care Aware of River Valley and utilize various materials, Holland said.

"We had one class that showed that activities with toddlers can be affordable and easy; you don't have to have a large budget," she said. "Candace Irby was moving her finger over a Ziplock bag, and people were able to see the different designs the paint inside the bag would make. This is great for that child who doesn't like to touch paint.

"And parents can do different characters for children," Holland added. "Felt is relatively inexpensive, and you can make a Mrs. Potato Head character from felt. You can do different cut-outs of characters. A toddler can spend half a day on that, and you can do a snowman, an emoji and others."

By having the classes interactive, the parents are able to learn quickly and gain both knowledge and self-confidence, she said. Hand-outs with tips and information frequently are given to parents, Holland said.

"Challenging behaviors can be one of the biggest sources of stress for parents, so we talk about what parents can do right away to help; maybe take a few deep breaths," she said. "We also talk about what might cause stress for your child -- stress that you don't realize is there.

"Electronics are very popular today; however, electronics trick the brain to make people not feel tired," Holland added. "We had a nurse speak on electronics ... and we've heard that turning electronics off 30 minutes before a child goes to bed develops a routine for your child."

Giving children some choices also can help strengthen the child-parent bond and reduce stress, she said.

"Letting the child dress him or herself can be good, even if the clothes don't match," Holland said. "If they are just going to go outside and play in the dirt, they aren't going to be wearing their good clothes anyway."

Routines also are recommended for parents, she said. Making a "cry plan" is a must for all parents, Holland said.

"Infants are going to cry, and crying will impact a parent," she said. "Have a cry plan so when you feel overwhelmed, you can stay safe and your infant will be safe. Call your neighbor that you trust with your child to help for 20 or 30 minutes so you can take a shower, regroup and go back to being Super Mom or Super Dad."

The classes often incorporate humor, which is fitting for several reasons, Holland said.

"People love the sense of humor that we bring to the classes because any time you work with children, a sense of humor is a requirement; children say some fun, off-the-wall things," she said.

"And we've heard that people like the fact that we share real-life examples and experiences," she added. "Some people will request information to learn about autism or other disabilities."

A grant-funded nonprofit that started in 2012, Child Care Aware of River Valley is the local affiliate of the national Child Care Aware organization and also offers free classes for child care providers from 6:15-8:15 p.m. Mondays.

"We've had people from the fire department come out and speak for these classes, and we might do a class on special-needs training on autism," Holland said. "We've had people with the local school district for a class on curriculum development and ways to enhance the classroom."

Van Buren resident Megan Jones admitted to attending "countless classes" at Child Care Aware of River Valley. As a parent and a preschool teacher at Quality Child Care, she learned from presenters who discussed pregnancies, infants, toddlers and more.

"The presenters are very informed, and they can answer any questions we have," said Jones, who has a 2 1/2-year-old daughter, Genesis. "The classes cover all kinds of subjects and topics, from classroom management and CPR to the different kinds of activities we can do with kids."

Jones said the classes have made her a better parent and a better educator.

"We've learned about dealing with behavioral problems in the classroom and how to get along with your co-workers," she said. "I've also learned how to be a leader, not just to the kids, but also for other teachers."

Registration for the free classes is encouraged and can be completed by calling (479) 222-6930 or emailing eholland@nwachildcare.org. Program information and schedules can be seen at NWAChildCare.org and the Child Care Aware of River Valley Facebook page.

"I feel like for me, it's just as fun learning from the parents and child care providers as it is for me teaching," Holland said. "Going to the Dollar Tree and picking up a few small things for children for a long car ride is a life-saver. Someone shared that information with me, and I am thankful. I enjoy being able to learn from everyone else, as well."

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