Whatcom Community College
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Parenting Education
Parent/caregiver students receive education on child development and guidance, support to run a non-profit cooperative business, experience in building a long lasting community and practical application of all of this in their laboratory setting.
Parent/caregiver students attend class taught by experienced WCC faculty at the preschool location and includes:
- Monthly lecture and discussions
- In-class discussion groups
- Individual education through phone/email/zoom consultation
Curriculum Topics
Course curriculum focuses on the latest, research-based information around child development and guidance including:
- Developmental brain science
- Screen usage
- Anti-bias parenting
- Social-emotional skills
- Trauma-responsive and positive discipline guidance strategies
- Healthy bodies – nutrition, sleep, toileting
- Temperament
- Contemporary family issues
- School readiness
- Inclusive education
Parent/caregiver students attend their child’s preschool classroom for laboratory learning once per week:
- Practice using tools and strategies learned in parenting education class to build children’s growing sense of self and facilitate positive social interactions between children.
- Assist Preschool Teachers in delivering developmentally appropriate curriculum.
- Observe preschool teacher and parenting educator modeling and encouraging guidance techniques.
Parent/caregiver students attend monthly class meetings where WCC faculty provide consultation about running a non-profit business. Parent/caregivers are...
- Voting members each with a specific role for the smooth running of the organization (some examples: volunteer scheduler, playdough maker, board member, field trip scheduler, etc).
- Governing board members.
- Build a solution-focused community amongst themselves.