Having a baby doesn’t automatically mean that you know how to parent. It’s normal to be unsure or struggle with parts of raising a child! While books are a great resource, they’re often generalized to appeal to a larger audience— or maybe you just don’t have the same time to read as you used to. Parenting classes are a great way to receive personalized support and build community. Here are my recommendations for parenting classes in Boston as a Boston family photographer.
You Will Love The Confidence You Find In These Parenting Classes In Boston
Family Nurturing Center
200 Bowdoin Street, Dorchester, MA, 02122
Family Nurturing Center helps to support both children and their families. So every child can be raised with the responsive parenting they need to succeed in life. Their parenting classes run over the course of 12 to 15 weeks and aim to bring both Boston parents and children together for weekly sessions. Parents meet in a parent group, while children meet in an age-specific group, with time built in for everyone to eat a meal and participate in some activities together.
The Family Nurturing Center also has a host of specialized programs that highlight groups that often don’t receive the same level of care. Their Nurturing Fathers program helps to bring fathers closer to their kids, while their Birth, Foster, & Kinship sessions are designed to support foster and kinship families. Family Nurturing Center offers programs in Spanish (Crianza Con Cariño) as well as a program that provides specialized support for Dorchester’s Cape Verdean population.
Massachusetts General Hospital
55 Fruit Street, Boston MA, 02114
As a part of their wide-ranging Boston health services, Massachusetts General Hospital offers both in-person and online parenting classes. These run through their Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Their Childbirth Education Class is for expectant parents and is set up to help them through birth and early parenthood; it is taught by registered labor and delivery nurses and includes a virtual hospital tour. You must be a Mass General obstetrical patient and at least 32 weeks pregnant to enroll. Other classes for this period of your child’s life include a cesarean section education class, a breastfeeding class, an infant CPR and safety class, an infant massage class, and a newborn care class.
Families First
50 Hunt St, Suite 320, Watertown, MA, 02472 or 401 Main Street, Holyoke, MA, 01040
Families First’s trademark Power of Parenting Program is all about connecting parents to their communities and giving them the skills to succeed in every aspect of life. Family First’s programs target Boston parents with children up to 8 years old and promote interactive, skills-based learning during their twelve weekly parenting classes. Classes happen at various partner locations. The program itself features interactive workshops, small group parent café discussion sessions, connections to community resources, and professional development opportunities. These developmental opportunities can include exploring options and course credits at the Urban College of Boston, attire from Dress for Success, career guidance from Duet, and getting a head start on your child’s literary programming.
NAPS
395 West Broadway, Boston, MA, 02127
Newborn and Parenting Support— NAPS— has on-demand classes for every part of your pregnancy and parenting journey. You can purchase courses like “Baby Safety” or “1 Year Transitions” directly on their website or sign up for a full Nurture Membership and gain access to boot camps and one-on-one consultations. NAPS offers both asynchronous classes and scheduled virtual sessions so that you can learn whenever is best for you— and your baby. NAPS’s classes are geared towards newer parents. However, they only offer learning content and support for children under 3 years old.
Parent Support Program – The Home for Little Wanderers
Main Location: 72 E. Dedham St, Boston, MA, 02118
Parent Support Program Contact: 780 American Legion Highway, Roslindale, MA, 02131
The Parent Support Program at The Home for Little Wanderers is a flexible community here to support parents caring for children with behavioral and mental health needs. Their professionally trained specialists lead both structured and open-ended groups and workshops, and they are also available for one-on-one support. While programming can change to respond to the needs of participants, example groups include Parenting Journey, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Navigating the Special Education System, and Financial Literacy. PSP also has education advocates on staff who can help you navigate the complicated special education system, create Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and 504s, and handle special education testing. Above all, everything comes free, including their Boston parenting classes.
Positive Parenting Boston Workshops
Workshops held via Zoom
Positive Parenting Boston Workshops are run by Cynthia Kriegman, a former bilingual elementary teacher who now focuses on parent and teacher classes, as well as mediation. Cynthia is a regular guest on NECN to give parenting tips and is a trusted community resource. She has been featured as part of a free online parenting course with Learning Seeds called “From Reacting to Responding.” For those wanting more in-depth, responsive support, Positive Parenting Boston holds multiple small group classes, including a Q&A support group, How to Talk So Kids Will Listen, and the Siblings Without Rivalry Workshop Series. Cynthia also offers individual consultations.
Parenting Journey
18 Bow Street #609, Somerville MA, 02143
Parenting Journey centers on a strengths-based, trauma-informed approach as they help guide you through the trials and tribulations of parenting. Rather than “teaching parenting,” Parenting Journey wants to help you learn to use your unique talents to be a great parent; their classes are not lecture-based! Instead, you’ll learn in small groups of fellow parents, often facilitated by another parent or community member. Classes include Parenting Journey 1 and 2, Parenting Journey for Fathers, and My Journey for families with children 14+. Their more specialized programs are Parenting Journey in Recovery for parents who struggle with addiction and Parenting in America, which is targeted to help immigrant families.
Make a Difference in Your Child’s Life with These Parenting Classes in Boston
Conscientious, empathetic children are raised by conscientious, empathetic parents. Learn to be the best parent you can be with the help of these phenomenal Boston parenting classes. Your child will thank you!
Once you’ve grown closer as a family, consider scheduling a family photoshoot together to show your love for each other. As a Boston family photographer, nothing brings me greater joy than helping families capture theirs. Let’s make memories together! Send me a message here.
