BCC Lab School to Help Parents

February 2, 2012, Brevard County, FL – The toughest job in the world is raising children and trying hard to be a good parent.

That's where the Brevard Community College Lab School for Parent Education comes in.The school offers hands-on parenting classes where parents attend school with their children during the day and with other parents in the evening. It's now accepting registration for classes in the 2012-13 school year.

"We're here to help people become better parents. Everything we do is focused on that goal," says Dr. Gail Buchanan, program director.  "We care deeply about every adult and child and know Lab School can make a difference in their lives."

To learn more, Brevard County residents can attend a Feb. 13 Preschool Fair at the Melbourne Public Library, 504 East Fee Ave., from 10 a.m. to noon.

There will also be a series of Lab School open houses Feb. 27-March 1 for parents with children aged 6 weeks to 5 years of age. For information on classes, contact Pam White, (321) 433-7668, labschools@brevardcc.edu.

Teachers will be at all the events to discuss how the school can improve parenting skills and what makes it a unique resource that has been serving the Space Coast for 45 years.

The open house schedule is as follows:

• Monday, Feb. 27

Cocoa Beach: Riverside Presbyterian Church, 3400 N. Atlantic Ave., 9:15 a.m. -12:30 p.m.
Melbourne: First Christian Church of Melbourne Disciples of Christ, 2010 S. Babcock St., 9:15 a.m.-11:45 a.m.
Melbourne/Palm Bay: Babcock Center, 3661 S. Babcock St., 9 a.m.- 12 p.m.

• Tuesday, Feb. 28

Cocoa Beach: Riverside Presbyterian Church, 3400 N. Atlantic Ave., 9:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.
Melbourne: First Christian Church of Melbourne Disciples of Christ, 2010 S. Babcock St., 9:30a.m. – 11:00a.m.
Melbourne/Palm Bay: Babcock Center, 3661 S Babcock St., 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

• Wednesday, Feb. 28

Cocoa Beach: Riverside Presbyterian Church, 3400 N. Atlantic Ave., 9:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Melbourne: First Christian Church of Melbourne Disciples of Christ, 2010 S. Babcock St., 9:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Melbourne/Palm Bay: Babcock Center, 3661 S. Babcock St., Melbourne, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

• Thursday, Feb. 29

Cocoa Beach: Riverside Presbyterian Church, 3400 N. Atlantic Ave., 9:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.
Melbourne/Palm Bay: Babcock Center, 3661 S. Babcock St., 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

• Friday, March 1

Cocoa Beach: Riverside Presbyterian Church, 3400 N. Atlantic Ave., 9:30 a.m. – 12:30p.m.
Melbourne BCC Campus: Child Development Center, 3865 N. Wickham Road, 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Melbourne/Palm Bay: Babcock Center, 3661 S. Babcock St., 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Palm Bay BCC Campus: Child Care Development Center, 1455 Treeland Blvd., Building 6, 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

Lab School doors are open to everyone including single parents, grandparents who are raising children or serving as care-givers during the day, and step parents.

The program features a mix of classroom instruction and weekly sessions where the parents get with their children to practice what they have learned with a teacher present.  In addition to regular classes, other class options include:

• “Parenting 101,” which provides the all-important basics.
• “Fathering is a Contact Sport,” geared to the special role that fathers play.
• “It’s Elementary, My Dear,” for parents with children in elementary school.
• “Guidance for Parents and Teachers of Children with Disabilities,” which focuses on special needs.
• “Hola!” a Spanish class for preschool children.
• “Let’s Get Messy” summer camps.

“Brevard parents should take advantage of Lab School. It’s an important opportunity they should not miss,” says Buchanan.

-END-

Brevard Community College is committed to engaging our diverse
population in quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities which
successfully meet individual and community needs.

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