K.M.
Hi, I don't know of any classes that are offered, but I can suggest a couple books. I recently read How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish. It was really really excellent. I can't say enough good things about it. In fact, you can apply the techniques in it for communicating with anyone although obviously it's geared towards children. The book is written in such a way that you could use it for self study.
I am currently in the middle of a book called Positive Discipline: The First Three Years: From Infant to Toddler--Laying the Foundation for Raising a Capable, Confident Child by Jane Nelson. I admit I don't love it as much as the other book. I kind of use the attachment parenting philosophy and some of the things it says don't work for me. But, no book is perfect and it has lots of great ideas geared towards older children (2.5 or 3 and up). I agree with the basic philosophy of it. It is part of a series of positive discipline books. Here's a bit of the Amazon description:
·Encourage independence and exploration while providing appropriate boundaries
·Use non-punitive methods to instill valuable social skills and positive behavior inside and outside the home
·Recognize when your child is ready to master the challenges of sleeping, eating, and potty training, and how to avoid the power struggles that often come with those lessons
·Identify your child's temperament
·Understand what the latest research in brain development tells us about raising healthy children
·And much, much more!
I hope this helps! =D
