By Emily Enfinger | The Selma Times-Journal

Selma area parents can soon learn a few helpful tips on parenting teens and tweens.

Selma City Schools is hosting “Active Parenting for Parents with Teens or Tweens” workshops at R. B. Hudson Middle School.

The workshops are from 8:30 a.m. until noon on Jan. 25, 27 and 28.

Selma City Schools parents and guardians are welcome to attend. The workshops are free and registration is not required.

The workshops are geared to parents and guardians with children from age 14-19.

Cynthia Perkins, parent engagement coordinator with Selma City Schools, said having a place where parents can learn and talk to others about parental involvement and share ideas is beneficial for everyone.

“Children don’t come with a tag with instructions on how to raise them,” Perkins said. “We decided to choose this workshop because we wanted to focus on helping parents understand the emotional challenges children go through when they’re teenagers.”

Parents will gain knowledge on how to guide safer choices, discipline effectively, gain cooperation and avoid power struggles. The workshops are video based, using a 10-week video series, and will incorporate parent material and work books.

Perkins said parents have already been sending good feedback, saying they are looking forward to the workshop series.

“I have several parents who are excited about coming out on Monday,” Perkins said. “So we will keep our fingers crossed and see how it goes.”

Upon completion of the workshops, parents will receive free parenting materials, goodie bags and a certificate.

For more information about Active Parenting for Parents with Teens or Tweens workshops, call 874-1605 or 874-1675.