Parent Encouragement Program (PEP)

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Parent Encouragement Program (PEP) Offering the parenting classes and resources parents need to raise capable and responsible children. Learn more at http://www.pepparent.org/.

PEP's parenting classes are highly-regarded and in-depth for parents of toddlers through teenagers. "PEP is all about educating parents and caregivers, giving them the knowledge and the skills to raise more cooperative, respectful and responsible children-- that is, to become parents who are involved but not over-involved, who are protective without being overly protective, who provide without over-indulging, who can create a loving and well-functioning family." - PEP Founder Linda Jessup

10/13/2026

✨ A new look. A better experience. The same mission: helping families thrive.

PEP’s redesigned website is LIVE! 🎉

We’ve made it easier to explore our programs, find resources for families, learn about partnership opportunities, and see the impact of PEP’s work.

Whether you’re a parent looking for practical tools or a partner who shares our vision, there’s more to discover at PEPparent.org.

We’re especially grateful to Raymond and Molly Ruppert and Family, and Joseph and Kathy Dreyfuss, whose generous gifts helped make this new website possible.

💛 Our work is possible because of a community that believes every child deserves to thrive. Help us spread the word by sharing our new website with family and friends!

🔗 Visit us today: https://PEPparent.org/

Discover how the Parent Encouragement Program (PEP) helps parents raise confident, capable, and resilient children!
10/05/2026

Discover how the Parent Encouragement Program (PEP) helps parents raise confident, capable, and resilient children!

Messy room? Let it be.Mismatched clothes? No big deal.Forgotten lunch? They might remember it tomorrow. 😉Not every probl...
10/02/2026

Messy room? Let it be.
Mismatched clothes? No big deal.
Forgotten lunch? They might remember it tomorrow. 😉

Not every problem needs a parent solution.

When it’s safe and appropriate, letting children experience small struggles and natural consequences gives them opportunities to practice decision-making, persistence, and problem-solving.

What’s one “little problem” you’ve learned to let your child handle?

Limits are part of growing up—and part of family life. But setting them is only half the challenge.How we uphold them ma...
09/30/2026

Limits are part of growing up—and part of family life. But setting them is only half the challenge.

How we uphold them matters, too. ❤️

When everyone’s “platform” is worn out, even a simple limit can become a battle. A little more sleep, play, connection, transition time, and calm can make a big difference.

And instead of thinking only about “What rules should we have?”, try asking:

“What do we want our family to stand for—and what limits will help us get there?”

Limits don’t have to create distance. With the right approach, they can actually help families build connection, responsibility, and cooperation.

👉 Read “Within Limits: A Fresh Angle on Setting Limits for Kids” on the PEP blog for more practical ideas.

https://pepparent.org/within-limits-a-fresh-angle-on-setting-limits-for-kids/

Consider this your reminder that you don’t have to do everything perfectly to be a good parent. ❤️Sometimes the healthie...
09/28/2026

Consider this your reminder that you don’t have to do everything perfectly to be a good parent. ❤️

Sometimes the healthiest choice is to loosen your grip on the things that don’t really matter—and save your energy for the things that do.

Your children don’t need perfection. They need you: caring, responsive, learning, and growing right alongside them.

👉 Read “Forget Perfect Parenting – Good Enough is Exactly That” for more perspective.

https://pepparent.org/forget-perfect-parenting-good-enough-is-exactly-that/

09/26/2026

What if the change we want to see in our families starts with us? ❤️

As parents, it’s easy to focus on what we wish our children would do differently. But we have an opportunity to model the qualities we hope to nurture in them—patience, curiosity, compassion, respect, and resilience.

We don’t have to wait for someone else to change before we take the first step.

Sometimes, changing our own approach can change the whole dynamic.

This idea is rooted in the work of Alfred Adler and Rudolf Dreikurs, whose approach to parenting emphasizes mutual respect, encouragement, and understanding the child within the context of their relationships and family.

At PEP, our parenting education is based on these principles and focuses on practical ways parents can build stronger, more respectful relationships with their children.

👉 Find more practical parenting ideas on the PEP blog: https://pepparent.org/other-resources/blog/

When our kids are dealing with something scary, our instinct can be to make the worry go away.We might reassure them. Gi...
09/25/2026

When our kids are dealing with something scary, our instinct can be to make the worry go away.

We might reassure them. Give them more information. Try to explain everything. Or quickly tell them why they don’t need to be afraid.

But sometimes, what children need most is much simpler: a calm adult who is willing to listen. ❤️

School lockdowns and safety drills can bring up all kinds of thoughts and feelings—and every child may respond differently. Give them room to share without judgment or criticism. Listen before offering solutions, and let their questions guide how much information you provide.

You don’t have to have the perfect answer. You can simply be there.

👉 Read “The Lowdown on School Lockdowns” on the PEP blog for more ideas about supporting children through difficult conversations.

https://pepparent.org/the-lowdown-on-school-lockdowns/

MORNING MAYHEM. BEDTIME BATTLES. TONIGHT! ⏰If getting out the door in the morning—or getting everyone settled at night—f...
09/23/2026

MORNING MAYHEM. BEDTIME BATTLES. TONIGHT! ⏰

If getting out the door in the morning—or getting everyone settled at night—feels harder than it should, join us tonight from 8–9 pm ET for PEP’s Manage Morning Mayhem & Bedtime Battles webinar.

We’ll talk about practical ways to:
✔️ Build productive habits
✔️ Help children take more responsibility
✔️ Avoid those high-emotion moments when the clock is ticking

Bring your real-life morning and bedtime struggles! Our presenters will draw on their own family experiences and years of helping parents navigate these exact challenges.

🎥 Can’t make it live? Your enrollment includes the recording, an audio version you can listen to podcast-style, and handouts.

👉 Join us tonight!
https://pepparentonline.org/p/bedtime-2026

For some kids, the hardest part of homework isn’t the work itself—it’s figuring out how to get from “I have an assignmen...
09/21/2026

For some kids, the hardest part of homework isn’t the work itself—it’s figuring out how to get from “I have an assignment” to “I’m done.”

Executive functioning helps us plan, organize, prioritize, manage time, and follow through.

One helpful strategy? Make the invisible visible. Break big assignments into smaller, manageable steps and work with your child to create a system that works for their brain.

Small supports today can build skills they’ll use for years to come.

Learn more on the PEP blog:
https://pepparent.org/homework-tips-executive-functioning-edition/

Mornings feel like a race. Bedtime feels like a battle. 😅Getting everyone dressed, fed, packed and out the door… then do...
09/18/2026

Mornings feel like a race. Bedtime feels like a battle. 😅

Getting everyone dressed, fed, packed and out the door… then doing it all again in reverse at the end of the day?

School-year routines can put a lot of pressure on the whole family.

Join PEP on Wednesday, September 23 from 8–9 pm ET for Manage Morning Mayhem & Bedtime Battles, a practical conversation about creating calmer, more productive routines for families with children age 2+.

You’ll learn how to:
• Create productive morning and nighttime habits
• Hand over more responsibility to your children
• Avoid high-emotion moments when the clock is ticking

Led by Colleen Reed, PEP Program Director, and PEP Family Resiliency Program Facilitators Vanessa Cruz and Melat Wondimagegen.

👉 Join us September 23! Enrollment also includes the recording, podcast-style audio and handouts.

https://pepparentonline.org/p/bedtime-2026

Address

10100 Connecticut Avenue
Kensington, MD
20895

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+13019298824

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