Dallas County Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will be hosting a five-week program in Perry starting Monday, with a focus on helping people be better parents.

The “Great Beginnings for Families” program will be offered Mondays from April 2-30 at the Perry First United Methodist Church, and there will be sessions in both English and Spanish. Topics covered include: positive discipline and guidance; helping children resolve conflict; basic principles of child development; handling uncomfortable emotions and feelings; and encouraging learning through play. Extension Educator and Great Beginnings Facilitator Lisa Mickelson says the goal of the program is to help parents realize the strengths they already have, while helping them gain new knowledge, skills, and techniques to raise happy children.

“Great Beginnings” will run Mondays from 10:30 a.m. – noon. There is no cost to attend and free childcare will be provided, though registration is required. For more information or to register, contact Mickelson for the English session at 515-993-4281 or lmickel@iastate.edu, or Rosa Gonzalez for the Spanish session at 515-490-2298 or rdegonza@iastate.edu.