A parenting education program at the Center for Child and Family Studies is providing families with resources to better understand child development while fostering a sense of community. The initiative, called Growing Together, holds weekly sessions in a classroom on Old Davis Road and is open to families outside the University of California, Davis community. Children from about six months to preschool age can participate.
Sierra Armién Funk, associate director and family coordinator of the Early Childhood Lab School, leads the program. She created Growing Together based on her experience in parenting education in Minnesota. Her goal is to help parents develop their own approaches to parenting.
“What is most typical is that adults interact with children based on how we see the world,” Armién Funk said. “So I encourage them to put themselves in their child’s shoes and try to see things from that very limited perspective, and to develop strategies based on that rather than on the adult’s perspective.”
The program’s weekly 60-minute sessions allow children to engage in free play while parents observe their interactions. These observations lead to discussions about child development and ways parents can adapt their methods for each child.
Beyond learning through play, Growing Together emphasizes understanding children’s behavior from a developmental standpoint. Armién Funk encourages caregivers to recognize that social skills and self-regulation take time to develop, stressing that guidance should match each child’s readiness.
Lara Mosswood, whose 19-month-old daughter Nina attends the program, learned about it through other participants at the UC Davis library. “It’s fun in a way because we have a new place to go to,” Mosswood said. “Sierra has helped Nina with socializing with other kids, sharing and language.”
The program also aims to build connections among families by encouraging openness about experiences and challenges. Parents support one another by sharing effective strategies.
“Parenting can be really isolating,” Armién Funk said. “And it’s becoming more isolating just as society is shifting. People are relying on social media, looking for guidance from an expert on Instagram versus someone that you can kind of get to know and can understand the details of your own experience.”
While participation requires payment—$200 per family per quarter—the program was previously free for student parents thanks to funding from Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS). That grant has ended.
“There were tons of mostly student parent families participating when the program was free,” Armién Funk said. “The cost is now prohibitive for some, unfortunately, and I’m always looking for opportunities to provide scholarships.”
Armién Funk also offers monthly family education workshops online covering topics such as temperament, setting limits, and conflict resolution.
Growing Together combines play-based learning with educational support and community-building efforts for families seeking guidance on child development.
