By Bellevue College Parent Education Program

This year marks the 75th year Washington State Community and Technical Colleges have been supporting families through research-based parent education and early childhood education experiences.

Last year alone, over 900 families participated in Bellevue College’s affordable parent education program that provided Eastside parents with their infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergartners enrichment and learning opportunities to last a lifetime.

The Bellevue College Parent Education classes enable parents to:

— Get involved in their child’s schooling. Contemporary researchers suggests parent education is the best predictor of a child’s success in school.

According to Joyce Epstein of Johns Hopkins University, “The earlier in a child’s educational process parent involvement begins, the more powerful the effects. . . . Decades of research show that when parents are involved students have higher grades, test scores, and graduation rates; better school attendance; increased motivation, better self-esteem; lower rates of suspension; decreased use of drugs and alcohol; and fewer instances of violent behavior. Family participation in education was twice as predictive of students’ academic success as family socioeconomic status.”

— Participate in an organized research-based parent education forum. Raising children today is different than for parents in earlier generations. In recognizing this, the BC parent education program is based upon positive parenting techniques that increase the likelihood of better outcomes.

Classes focus on managing emotions, improving family communication, and learning about temperament differences that affect family dynamics. Research indicates that this authoritative/responsive parenting style increases the likelihood of better academic performance and better friendships.

— Support their child’s social development and develop friendships. Parents love to make new friends, and so do their children. Friendships easily develop in the classroom setting because parents and children are sharing fun experiences.

To learn more about the Bellevue College Parent Education program, visit: http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/health/parented/