Parenting Master Classes Use Latino Cultural Perspective

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Many factors influence early childhood development, school readiness, and health. For example, Latino parents are less likely to engage their children in preliteracy activities or read books to them leading to cognitive and oral communication gaps in Latino children.

Culturally relevant parent counseling, education and support can play a huge role in childhood literacy and health, because kids who do better in school become healthier adults.

Three groups in Walla Walla, Washington (21.6% Latino) worked together to create a 10-week series of FREE parenting master classes, Abriendo Puertas-Spanish for Opening Doors-that use a Latino cultural perspective and are taught in Spanish. The three groups are, Walla Walla Valley Early Learning Coalition,  the Walla Walla Community College Early Childhood & Parenting Education and Blue Mountain Action Council Commitment to Community (C2C) programs.

C2C publicized the class in predominately Latino neighborhoods.

Each Abriendo Puertas session incorporates a popular Latino saying and culturally familiar activities and relevant data to promote their children’s kindergarten readiness. Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors is the nation’s first evidence-based comprehensive training program developed by and for Latino parents with children ages 0-5.

Community involvement in preparing kids for kindergarten is critical because the relationship between the community and school affects the entire community, not just students attending the school.

Another class series is planned for the fall.

You can make a difference in your community and request culturally relevant parent counseling programs to boost early childhood development.