By: Stacy Kilwein, WDPFRC, Family Engagement, Homeless & FosterCare Liaison, Parent Education
Research has shown that parental engagement is one of the essential factors in a student’s academic achievement.
Think back to the biggest, most important endeavor you’ve ever taken on. Perhaps you were presenting to a Board, running a marathon, or taking an entrance exam in hopes of getting into your dream university. Now the critical question—did you wing it?
In most areas of our life, we wouldn’t dream of throwing ourselves into something without preparation and seeing what happens. We’d ask for advice, learn, and discover strategies to perform better, and practice. Sometimes, we feel hesitant to take the same approach to parenting. There’s a perception that mothers and fathers should just know what to do naturally— It’s not always that easy.
West Dakota Parent & Family Resource Center (WDPFRC) is a collaborative partnership with parents and communities providing skills, resources, and support through education to families in Region VIII in southwest North Dakota. WDPFRC works to educate, build support networks, and offer resources to enhance the success of families. WDPFRC is a community collaboration of the Dickinson Public Schools and North Dakota State University Extension Service.
WDPFRC supports parents at every stage of their child’s development, from toddlers to teenagers, to assist them in nurturing and guiding their children. We also provide support for family transitions, including co-parenting and strengthening stepfamilies.
WDPFRC utilizes innovative ways to provide families and professionals with parenting information.
a. One of the ways is a monthly newsletter. The newsletter provides: an in-depth topic-focused approach to child development and parenting; increased awareness of behaviors as a parent; increased knowledge of parenting children more effectively; increased awareness of a child’s needs.
b. Parent education programs focus on enhancing parenting practices and behaviors, such as developing and practicing positive discipline techniques, learning age-appropriate child development skills and milestones, promoting positive play and interaction between parents and children, and locating and accessing community services and supports.
Our Parenting Classes utilize nationally recognized curriculums including, The Nurtured Heart Program, Circle of Security, Love and Logic, Positive Discipline, Parents Forever~ Divorce Transitions, and Conscious Discipline, among others.
Parenting classes are an investment in our personal growth and our children’s future ability to build healthy relationships, make and retain friends, get a job and keep it, and become great parents themselves.
Parents who have accessed the Center’s resources or lending library and/or attended classes have learned even greater effective discipline and parenting techniques. They report having children with higher grades, fewer behavior problems, less substance abuse issues, better mental health and greater social competence.
A child’s education starts from home. Parents are their first teachers, and have a key role in shaping their character. Be a helping hand in their educational journey and travel with them with true inspiration. Your role is not limited to home but involvement in school too.
West Dakota Parent and Family Resource Center is located in the Hagen Building at 402 4th St. West, feel free to stop in, or call 701-456-0007 or email skilwein@dpsnd.org. For more information, please visit our website at: https://www.dickinson.k12.nd.us/dps-entities/westdakota/.