Parenting is probably the most important job in the world yet there are no specific manuals or guidelines that can teach us how to be great parents. But thankfully there are local parenting workshops that can help us deal with the various developmental stages of childhood.
Art of Raising Children (ARC) is a nonprofit organization that tries to strengthen family relationships through education, support groups and resources. The organization is offering workshops on Nun's Island that are designed to provide valuable information, insights and knowledge concerning child and adolescent development as well as practical parenting strategies. Here are a few examples of their upcoming workshops:
March 14, 2012: Balancing work & home life: tips to regain control with Dr. Sharyn Sepinwall
Are you worn out and frustrated? An English workshop that will help you discover strategies for managing stress and maintaining balance.
March 28, 2012: Arrete de m’intimider! with George Manoli
A French workshop that will help participants discover simple, practical and creative ways to deal with situations involving bullying.
April 4, 2012: Connecting with your spouse: getting the love you want! with Dr. Sophie Slade
A bilingual workshop that helps you create and maintain a deep connection with your spouse, which will benefit the whole family.
April 26, 2012: Parler pour que les enfants ecoutent with Roseline Roy
A French workshop geared to parents who want to improve their communication with their kids.
On March 14, the workshop will take place at 1090 Greene Ave., Westmount. The other workshops will take place at the Elgar Centre, 260 Elgar St., Nun's Island from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. One workshop costs $30 while two costs $50. However, “Parler pour que les enfants ecoutent” costs $15.
Also, on April 27, 28 and 29, 2012, ARC will be hosting a three-day course about “How to talk so kids will listen, and listen so kids will talk” based on the book of the same title by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish. It will be offered only in French and is open to parents ($250) and facilitators ($350).
For more information, call (514) 833-4384 or go to www.raisingchildren.ca.
