Schaake, the mother of three boys and another child on the way, said the classes gave her a lot of good parenting tips that she was able to put to use right away.

"They were fabulous," she said. "It was very nice to talk to other people who are living the same life as you are right now."

While the classes are over with for now, Schaake is one of many parents who wants to see more of them offered in Hampton.

Joanna Wicklein, of Families First in Portsmouth, said the agency’s goal is to secure enough funding to make that happen. The nonprofit organization recently held a community forum to generate ideas for turning that goal into a reality.

Helen Taft, the executive director of Families First, said the organization has long been aware of the need to offer parenting classes in the Hampton area, but a lack of funding kept the need from being filled.

The organization was able to offer the classes this fall only because Hampton School Board member John Shaw raised the money to make that happen.

In August, Shaw kayaked 12 miles, biked 90 miles and hiked 8.5 miles to the top of Mount Washington to raise more than $6,000 to bring the classes to town.

"I attended the classes in Portsmouth, and I noticed there were a lot of people from Dover, Portsmouth, Stratham and Exeter," Shaw said in explaining why he decided to raise the money. "I was the only person from the Hampton area. I thought that was unfortunate, because if there is a need for these kind of courses in Dover and Portsmouth, there is a need for these courses in our community."

Although Hampton residents are allowed to attend Families First classes in Portsmouth, Shaw wanted to bring the classes closer to home.

Wicklein said there is enough money left over from Shaw’s fund-raising effort to offer classes again in the spring, but after that additional funds will be needed to continue offering them here.

Shaw said more than 30 families attended the classes this fall.

The classes were based on the books "How to Talk So Kids Will Listen" by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish, and "1-2-3 Magic" by Thomas Phalen.

Sydney Swartz, a Stratham resident who attended the classes in Hampton, said they were extremely helpful.

"Over the course of the past six weeks, I not only learned great strategies for getting my kids to do what I need them to do and to stop doing what I don’t want them to do, but I’ve learned how to parent my children with less wasted energy and less frustration," said Swartz, adding that she hopes the classes become a permanent fixture in town.

"I hope that Hampton will continue to support area families with classes like this," she said.

Shaw said he plans to continue raising money for the organization, and he hopes others will join him in doing so.

"We want to build up additional support for the programs for the community," said Shaw. "I will continue to raise funds, but my goal is other people will offer additional support (so Families First) can have a presence in Hampton."

The organization has already received a donation of $850 from the Hampton Rotary Club.