Free 'Love and Logic' Parenting Class Offered

March is Parenting Awareness Month, and Ferndale Youth Assistance wants to get the word out about a popular parenting program that has helped families around the world.

Love and Logic is a parenting philosophy and program founded in 1977 by Jim Fay and Dr. Foster W. Cline that focuses on communication, responsibility, positive discipline and healthy boundaries.

"His principles have been proven to allow parents to be able to communicate effectively with their children rather than finding themselves frustrated, finding themselves not able to handle stressful situations," said Stephanie McGowan, a caseworker with Ferndale Youth Assistance. "He is one of the top parenting educators out there."

Ferndale Youth Assistance is sponsoring a one-night parenting program based on Love and Logic principles 6:30-8:30 p.m. March 27 in the media center at . The program is free and will be facilitated by licensed professional counselor Gloria Sherman, who has been trained in the Love and Logic principles.

"She's going to give us a night of information that I think will be beneficial for children ages K through 12," McGowan said. "I find that it is a really good program – nonthreatening, nonintimidating. It puts parents back in a position of where they can kind of gain control of the situation."

Sherman, a graduate of Eastern Michigan and Saginaw Valley State universities, is co-founder of Parenting Partnership parent education center in Lapeer.

Registration is required and space is limited. Parents interested in attending can fill out the attached form or call Ferndale Youth Assistance at 248-586-8700 for more information.