SAN DIEGO -- Harsh words can hurt a child, having a profound effect on how they interact at home and school.

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In an effort to avoid those problems, a program called Por La Vida teaches parents to create a healthy environment for Latino children.

"The objective of the program is to create a healthy environment in which Latino children can be ready to start school," Por La Vida spokeswoman Ofelia Sandoval said.

"We take the sheet of paper as life. And any negative messages that we've received in life, it just crumples. Eventually, we're going to take all those negative messages and throw them away," Sandoval said.

This simple demonstration shows parents how words and attitudes affect children -- just one of the lessons taught in a "healthy families" class.

Sandoval said many of the students left family behind to come to the United States. The class gives them the support they need for better parenting.

"Por la Vida brings its healthy families program right to the community, in this case, an apartment complex. And that makes it a lot easier for the participants to take advantage of the program," Sandoval said.

Eladio Castillo joined the class to learn how to connect with his four children.

Castillo said that there was a series of problems that now are completely turned around.

He said it had to do with the support and everything Por La Vida taught him about communicating with the family.

The students also take home a lesson in how to treat themselves.

"We are talking about the children. But as we know, if we don't have high self-esteem there's no way we can pass that on," Sandoval said.

The healthy families class also covers issues such as nutrition and safety. Instructors connect students with any community service they may need.

Funding for Por La Vida comes from the First 5 Commission of San Diego.