Parenting
workshops for families with children of all ages will be offered this fall by
the Sussex County Family Success Center at Project Self-Sufficiency. Participants will learn about the different
stages of physical and emotional development during childhood, as well as
techniques for positive discipline and improved communication. All classes will take place from 6:00 – 8:00
p.m.; the sessions are free and open to the public, but registration is required. The agency is located at 127 Mill Street in
Newton.
A
course for those parenting infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children will
be held on Tuesdays, September 12th – November 28th.
Parents
of school-aged children, ages six through twelve, are invited to attend a
course on Tuesdays, September 12th – November 28th.
Classes
for parents of adolescents will be offered on Wednesdays, September 13th
– November 29th.
Expectant
parents can take a prenatal parenting class on Thursdays, September 14th
– November 9th.
A
course designed just for fathers will take place on Thursdays, September 14th
– November 9th.
The
parenting classes offered by Project Self-Sufficiency incorporate the Nurturing
Parent curriculum, which teaches age-specific parenting skills and includes components
designed for parents as well as children.
The workshops encourage parents to share their experiences with each
other.
“The philosophy of the
‘Nurturing Parenting Program’ emphasizes the importance of raising children in
a warm, trusting and caring home with the belief that children raised in this
environment will develop the capacity to trust, care and respect other people
and their environment,” explains Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director of
Project Self-Sufficiency. “This program
stresses discipline that is nurturing and there is no accepting of any kind of
physical force. The emphasis is on an
attachment parenting approach, gentle touch, like infant massage, and the
reinforcement of positive behavior.”
The curriculum is
supplemented by small group discussion for adults along with play groups for
children which reinforce the weekly lesson plans. “A great number of parents
would like to meet others in similar situations. This offers a group dynamic where families
can share experiences and learn from others.
The end result is a tailored program that partners the curriculum with
each group’s shared experiences,” adds Berry-Toon.
The
Family Success Center at Project Self-Sufficiency is a program of support
offered to all families. In addition to
parenting skills training, local families can participate in family activities,
receive information about health and nutrition, take part in economic
self-sufficiency programs, receive legal education, obtain referrals, and other
services throughout the year.
To
register for the free parenting workshops, to discuss your parenting needs, or to
find out more about other programs and services available at the Sussex County
Family Success Center at Project Self-Sufficiency, call 973-940-3500 or
844-807-3500, or visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org.
