Parenting School Age Children

Kids between the ages of 5 and 11 are growing fast. They are making friends, learning at school, exploring hobbies, and testing their independence. With so much happening outside of your direct supervision, it can be hard to know when to step in and when to let them figure things out on their own.

Then there’s backtalk, homework struggles, slammed doors, sibling fights, and endless arguments over the smallest things. Some days, it feels like no matter what you try, nothing works. It is exhausting, frustrating, and can leave you doubting yourself as a parent.

You don’t have to go through this alone. The Parenting School-Age Children class is here to give you real, practical tools that make parenting feel less overwhelming. Together, we’ll explore what’s behind your child’s behaviour and how you can respond in ways that actually work.

By the end of the class, you’ll feel more confident in your parenting, know how to set boundaries with less pushback, and have strategies to handle everyday challenges.

Who can attend?

Any caregiver who is parenting a child between 5 and 11 years old
Caregivers interested in establishing positive parenting practices or addressing challenges in school age children

What will you learn?

You will build skills for parenting school-age children by understanding:

What to expect as your child grows and develops
Your parenting style and how it affects your child
Why school-age children behave the way they do
How to positively guide behaviours
How to better communicate with your child
What bonding is and why it’s important

Ways to teach your child problem-solving skills
The ins and outs of self-esteem
Discipline strategies
Internet safety
Chores – what to expect and when
What drives power struggles and how to address them
How to care for yourself during this stage

By the end of the session, you will feel more comfortable:

Creating effective parenting strategies and giving positive feedback
Addressing misbehaviour or other issues
Setting boundaries, limits, and guidelines
Communicating with your child
Providing a nurturing home environment
Minimizing the negative effects of divorce or separation (if applicable), and
Solving day-to-day problems and challenges

When and where is the class offered?

The class is available as a group workshop or a private class.
The group class is offered several times per year. Scroll down for upcoming dates.
You can attend this class online or in person at our office at 9912-106 Street, Edmonton.
In our group workshops, you will have many opportunities to ask questions, learn about yourself and your family, hear others’ experiences, and practise new skills. Many people who attend our workshops say they feel better after attending because they realize that they are not alone.
In a private class, you will receive the same amount of information as our group workshops, condensed into 3 hours with the facilitator. These are ideal for individuals or couples who want to get started sooner than the next group workshop, can’t attend the group workshops due to work schedules or other personal commitments, or simply prefer a more private setting.

How much does it cost?

Group workshops: $200 per person.

Private session: $350

We are dedicated to supporting families of all income levels. We offer a subsidy for attending the group workshop for this class, thanks to funding from the City of Edmonton Family and Community Support Services.

Please note, these subsidies are available for individuals registering themselves for a class. If you are an organization looking to register your client, please pay the full fee or get in touch to discuss funding options. If you'd like to donate to The Family Centre in lieu of paying for the class, you can do so here. All donations go right back into covering the next person who cannot afford the full fee. Please add “Education Services” to the message field.

Additional resources

Frequently asked questions about classes

Read in our blog: Helping children cope with school-based anxiety

Read in our blog: Take the work out of homework

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Parenting School-Age Children