By Samantha Bolden | The Selma Times-Journal

The Dallas County Family Resource Center will offer free parenting classes to the community later this month. The program, “Whole Parent,” is hosted by Family Resource Center and Alabama’s Children Trust Fund.

The sessions will be held Tuesday, Aug. 23 and Thursday, Aug. 25 from 10 a.m. to noon at The Family Resource Center and will run for four weeks until Sept. 15.

During the classes, participants will learn about early brain development, the ways to soothe a crying baby, prenatal nutrition, ages and stages of child development, pregnancy in the workplace and more. Other classes will discuss behavior in adolescent children as well.

“Sometimes parents just doesn’t know what to do,” said Amy Carmichael, parenting program manager of the Family Resource Center. “We want to give them some tools and effective skills to ultimately prevent abuse and neglect.”

Carmichael said the resource center has previously offered parenting classes.

In addition to leaving the session with practical knowledge, parents will receive books and will make new toys for the baby.

A Graco Pack N’ Play will be given away as a door prize. There will also be two more Graco Pack N’ Play available for $50 to participants, but they must attend at least four classes to qualify. Participants will receive a certificate once the classes have ended.

The Family Resource Center is located at 10096 Al. Hwy 14W. For more information or to reserve a spot in the class, contact Carmichael at (334)874-7782.