La Cañada Presbyterian Church’s Parent Education program is hosting two new classes, New Babies and Parenting Your Exceptional Child, starting in early 2016 along with the second semester of all Parent Education classes.

For parents wishing their newborn came with an instruction manual, look no farther than Nanette Brown’s New Babies class. Specially tailored to parents of babies born between August and Dec. 31, 2015, parents will find advice, support and sustenance in a caring group setting. Brown, an experienced instructor and mother of seven, will lead discussions on nursing and nutrition, sleep habits, changing family dynamics, infant safety and bonding with your infant. Group discussions allow plenty of time for parental connection. The New Babies class will start Jan. 21 on Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Parenting your Exceptional Child (PEC) is a six-week class for parents of kindergarten through sixth grade children who need encouragement, support, education and resources for parenting their exceptional child (ADHD/ADD, autism spectrum, special needs, highly gifted, adoption or divorce issues, health or any other exceptional circumstances). Parents will have the opportunity to meet weekly with an experienced parent ed teacher, Sloan Walsh, and collaborate with other parents facing the same challenges in raising a child with exceptional needs, gifts and/or circumstances. Discussion topics will include parenting methods for raising an exceptional child, supporting learning and managing school challenges, raising happy kids who thrive, handling challenging discipline issues, and understanding our children’s brain, to name a few. This six-week class will be held Feb. 3 through March 9 on Wednesdays from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Second semester for LCPC Parent Education’s 12 classes for parents of children 0-18 begins the week of Jan. 25th. To sign up for a class, learn more, or experience a free LCPC class, go to www.lacanadapc.org/parented or call (818) 790-6708 x 205. Classes meet weekly September through May and attract approximately 400 participants from 22 different cities.

La Cañada Presbyterian Church is located at 626 Foothill Blvd. in La Cañada.

Submitted by Katherine LOEVINGER