Parenting Education Classes

  • The School District of Clayton recognizes the integral part that parents play in the academic and personal lives of our students. To this end, we provide parents the opportunity to gather together to learn, ask questions, support one another and grow in their understanding of child development, parenting strategies and more. Clayton parent educators provide facilitation and expertise to help guide the learning.

    • Workshop topics cover parenting from birth through adolescence, in addition to topics of family wellness and personal well-being.
    • Parenting Workshops can be as small as six people and as large as 15. Workshops are open to District and non-District residents. Fees are determined by the number of weeks the class will be meeting.
    • Pick a topic of interest, find at least five other friends and contact Jani Holyan at the Family Center at janelleholyan@claytonschools.net to set up a “Design Your Own Workshop.”  The Family Center will provide the space to meet and a parent educator to facilitate the workshop.

    The book titles below have been the focus of past parent workshops. Please use these titles for inspiration in developing your own book study.

    General Parenting

    • “How Toddlers Thrive: Planting the Seeds for Life-long Success” by Tovah Klein
    • “Confident Parents, Remarkable Kids: 8 Principles for Raising Kids You’ll Love to Live With” by Bonnie Harris
    • “How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk” by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
    • “Kids, Parents and Power Struggles” by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka
    • “The Friendship Factor: Helping Our Children Navigate Their Social World and Why It Matters for Their Success” by Kenneth Rubin, Ph.D.
    • “Scream Free Parenting: Raising Your Kids by Keeping Your Cool” by Hal Runkel
    • “Girls Will Be Girls; Raising Confident, Courageous Daughters” by JoAnn Deak
    • “Siblings Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together So You Can Live Too!” by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish


    Well-being, Relationships & More

    • “Seeking Serenity: 10 New Rules for Health and Happiness in the Age of Anxiety” by Amanda Enayati
    • “Scream Free Marriage: Calming Down, Growing Up and Getting Closer” by Hal Runkel
    • “The Secrets of Happy Families:  Improve Your Mornings, Tell Your Family History, Fight Smarter and Go Out and Play” by Bruce Feiler
    • “Type Talk: The 16 Personality Types That Determine How We Live, Love and Work” by Otto Kroeger and Janet Thuessen
    • “What Type Am I? Discover Who You Really Are” by Renee Baron (Exploring Myers Briggs and its relevance for ourselves and our families)
     
    Adolescence
    • “Why Do They Act That Way?  A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain for You and Your Teen” by David Walsh, Ph.D.
    • “Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends and Other Realities of Adolescence” by Rosalind Wiseman
    • “Masterminds and Wingmen: Helping Our Boys Cope with Schoolyard power, Locker-Room Tests, Girlfriends, and the New Rules of Boy World” by Rosalind Wiseman
    • “How To Talk So TEENS Will Listen & Listen so TEENS Will Talk” by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
    • “The Blessing of a B Minus” by Wendy Mogel
    • “Teach Your Children Well: Parenting For Authentic Success” by Madeline Levine, Ph.D.
    • “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success: How We Can Learn To Fulfill Our Potential” by Carol Dweck, Ph.D.

    Jani Holyan, M.A., is certified to administer the Myers Briggs Personality Type Assessment and also does individual parent coaching. Contact Jani at janelleholyan@claytonschools.net for more information.