Conference Gives Parents Tools, Coping Skills

They say children are “works in progress,” but how many parents have it all figured out? A half-day conference will help today’s parents fill their toolboxes with new parenting skills.

Parents of preschoolers through teenagers are invited to attend the event Parents Under Construction from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at Brighton First United Methodist Church.

Educator Duke Kelly kicks off the morning with a keynote address called “Begin with their Brains.”

Understanding what is physically happening inside your child’s head can help you choose appropriate strategies to enhance attention, compliance, creativity and more, Kelly says. Believe it or not, the adult is often the one who “doesn’t get it” when things go awry.

His dynamic and interactive style will get parents laughing at themselves as they recognize the typical sticky situations parents find themselves. The good news is that understanding where children are in their development will help parents respond in positive, productive ways.

The workshops following the keynote address will cover more age-specific brain development issues as well as several topics geared toward teens and tweens, such as media and technology, substance abuse and for the younger set on independence, and creative fun. Additional topics include step parenting and fathers connecting with their children.

“We wanted to offer a lot of practical parenting resources without taking a lot of time,” said Suzanne Everett, church member and event organizer. “We know parents are busy, so a half-day event seemed like a great way to reach out to the community and empower parents.

“Both parents can attend different concurrent sessions and really take home a lot information and ideas they can put to use right away,” she said.

Childcare will be available, including a children’s program featuring an educational live animal program.

Registration is $10 per person, $15 per couple, $5 for childcare. A $5 discount is available for advance registration by Sept. 12. Walk-ins accepted.

A used t-shirt drive that day will benefit a mission project to sew diapers for the Dominican Republic.

For more information or to register, visit www.brightonfumc.org/parenting.