Workshops List
Workshops are usually sponsored by a community group, school, church etc. in convenient neighborhood locations.
(1 to 2 hours in length)
Power of Positive Parenting
Parents are the single greatest influence over their children. They teach children the skills and abilities they will need to be happy and healthy adults. Knowing this can make parenting feel overwhelming at times. Research indicates that when parents use skills of encouragement, support, effective listening, respect and natural and logical consequences, they are providing a safe and nurturing environment for children to reach their potential. Join us in this workshop to cover these vital skills and much more.
What Kids Need to Succeed
Why do some children deal with life with ease while others struggle? Why do some children avoid pitfalls while others jump head first into risky situations? Why do some achieve their goals and still, others never attempt to even set them. Research indicates that children who succeed have many supports and strengths. With this proven formula, children are less likely to be involved with alcohol, drugs, tobacco, teenage sexual activity, depression, suicide, and school problems. Come join us in discovering how you can maximize your child's success.
Raising a Responsible Child
"Children are far less responsible now than in my generation," is an observation shared by many adults today. Responsibility cannot be taught, it must be given. When adults do for children what they can do for themselves, children are robbed of opportunities to develop responsibility. In this session, learn how to create an environment that promotes the development of responsibility in children, enhances cooperation and set kids up for success.
Traits of a Healthy Family
There are six vital ingredients that make a family strong and healthy. They include communication, family commitment, stress management, and involvement in family activities. The most important trait of a healthy family is a positive relationship between a parent and child. Research indicates that when there is a strong bond, children can thrive, even through difficult periods. In this workshop, discover how to strengthen your relationship with your children by focusing on providing support, empowering children and handling stress.
Encouragement: Developing Self Esteem
The single most important indicator of children's success is their belief in themselves. Self esteem is centered to what children make of their lives and is the driving force behind what they achieve. Encouraging the development of self esteem is sometimes a struggle. In this session, learn how to help your children build their self esteem, encourage self-evaluation and motivate them to achieve.
Cultivating Creativity in Children
Children learn most successfully through play. In fact, the first several years of life, play is a child's main "job". During these early years, children will learn to solve problems, develop coping skills and to interact with others successfully if parents focus on developing creativity through play. In this workshop discover ways to teach children through play and stimulate growth and development.
A United Front on the Home Front
Do you and your spouse ever disagree about parenting your children? Every parent brings a unique set of skills and beliefs to a relationship. Sometimes these skills and beliefs are similar and can complement and support the other parent's view. Other times parents will experience differences in parenting styles and belief systems. These differences can create significant problems in the relationship. In this presentation, learn solutions that help parents be effective in meeting this parenting challenge.
Families & Divorce: Helping Children Cope (4 hours)
Are you going through a divorce and want to know how to minimize the negative impact on your child? Divorce is hard enough without thinking you will ruin your children's lives. There are some easy steps that parents can take to minimize the hurt and confusion. BETA Center's class meets the Florida State mandate for divorcing parents. This class focuses on helping children grieve the loss of a two parent household and adjusting to new situations. It provides communication skills for parents who are struggling with their former spouse, to those who have channels of communication.
Actions Speak Louder Than Words - Teaching Values to Your Child
Many parents are concerned about the influence that sources outside the home may have on their child's value system. More importantly is what they learn at home. What children learn from their parents sends a lasting message about values. This helps children develop the ability to make good choices and say "no" to negative influences. In this session you will learn how to model and support the values you want to instill in your children.
Managing Middle School Madness
Changing schools can be scary for students and their parents. New environments, new pressures and new experiences can add up to additional stress for the family. Come join us in this survival course where parents and students spend the first hour separately discussing their expectations, fears, and strategies for making this adjustment as smooth as possible. The second hour will be devoted to bringing the parents and students together to gain an understanding of the impact this transition will have on the family and developing coping skills to manage.
Sibling Rivalry: What Can Parents Do?
If you have more than one child, sometime in your life you will experience sibling rivalry. This is a normal rite of passage for children, but sometimes becomes an obstacle to peace in families. In this session, learn when to intervene and when to step back. Learn what sibling rivalry is, why children experience this type of jealousy and what can be done about it.
Protecting Our Children: An Everyday Job
How do we keep our kids safe in today's world and still allow them to be children? The nightly news tells us that "Don't talk to strangers" is no longer enough information for our kids. In this presentation, learn about "stranger danger", indicators of substance abuse, gang involvement and other problems confronting our children daily.
Latchkey Children: Is Your Child Ready?
In this day of two parents working or one parent families, it is a sure bet that sooner or later a child will be responsible for self care. Your child's level of maturity as well as their development of self reliance skills will determine the success of this experience. Discover how to determine if your child is ready for this situation and how best to prepare them for security and success.
Grandparents Parenting for the Second Time
Many grandparents today find themselves unexpectedly parenting again. This happens, at best, under strained circumstances. With less energy, more demands and worries about the future, grandparents face a host of challenges. In this workshop discover ways to cope with this new challenge, learn what to say when your grand children ask "why" and refresh your discipline techniques.
Fathers Forever
Fathers' roles are important in children's lives. Not only do fathers take responsibility for feeding, diapering and nurturing, they are also role models and teachers. Research indicates that actively involved fathers help children individuate, encourage higher IQ's and promote development of social skills. In this workshop discover ways to strengthen your relationship with your child, discipline techniques that work and strategies for staying involved in your child's activities.
Spanking: The Discipline Dilemma
Do we or don't we spank? What are the long range effects of spanking, or not spanking? Will my children respect me if I don't spank? These questions are routinely asked when parents think about the way to discipline and the best way to raise healthy, responsible children. This topic creates opposition among parents and parenting experts alike. Parents often spank because they are afraid not to or they don't know what else to do. This dilemma puts a lot of pressure on parents to make the "right" decision or to pay with their children's futures. Come explore the "right" decision for you.
Practical Tips for Parenting the Preschooler
Sleeping, eating, toilet training, temper tantrums, and saying "no" ~ these are only a few of the challenges that await parents as their compliant infant moves into the toddler years. What worked for your infant won't work for your toddler, nor will the techniques that work for older children, In this session discover specific discipline techniques for toddlers, identify developmentally appropriate behaviors and incorporate routine in structure.
Power Struggles: Saying NO Without the Battle
Take off the gloves and come out ahead. Children often hook us into a power struggle before we realize what has happened. This behavior for children keeps parents feeling inadequate and often miserable. In this workshop, gain a better understanding of what to look for and how to avoid power struggles and improve relationships.
What to Do When Nothing Else Works
Are you in a constant battle with your child? Have you tried EVERYTHING with little or no success? This presentation is designed for parents who are at their wit's end and are looking for solutions that work. Discover practical tips and techniques that will help you bring out the best in your child and make your role as a parent less stressful!
Taming Temper Tantrums
Does your child go into a rage when he/she doesn't get their way? Have you ever been embarrassed by your child's behavior? Temper tantrums are a child's way to express anger and frustration - and to get what they want. In this workshop, learn how to recognize factors that may contribute to temper tantrums, understand the goals of misbehavior, and techniques to manage tantrums.
Survive & Thrive in the Teen Years
Adolescence is a time when parents are faced with a host of new problems. Your adolescent is seeking independence and you are trying to figure out what alien forces have overcome your child! It is normal, and expected, for parents not to know what to anticipate when their children enter adolescence, and for there to be many challenges. In this session discover what is actually happening to your child, communication and conflict resolution skills for dealing with teens and how to continue to be a part of your teens life as they are trying to gain independence.
Single Parenting With Success
Raising children is a tough job, and raising children alone is even tougher. There are ways to arrange life so there is room for YOU, child raising and your job. Time and stress management become necessary facts of life. A good support system is essential when you are a single parent. Come to this workshop to learn these and many other strategies that will make your single parenting job easier and more successful.
Blended Families: Building Solutions
This workshop will focus on the unique issues and concerns of blended families. Topics include defining roles, discipline and strategies to strengthening the family relationships. This session also explores the positive aspects of remarried family life. Bring your challenges and concerns and walk away with coping and family strengthening skills.
What to Expect Besides the Baby
You learned all you could about caring for your newborn. However, no one told you how much a baby can change other aspects of your life, such as personal relationships and your position in the workplace. In this workshop, you will discover ways to manage all the changes you never expected!
Wiring Your Child's Brain for Success
Understanding how your child's brain develops can help you provide the types of experiences that are essential for developing intelligence, logical thinking, creativity, and much, much more. Understanding how your child's brain develops can help you maximize your child's potential. Come join us in learning how to wire your child's brain for success.
Building Bridges of Family Communication
Healthy relationships are the foundation for strong families. Children need to know they are loved, valuable, and what is expected of them. What we say to our kids as well as we say it relays messages of their self worth. In this session, learn how to promote respect, encourage listening and how to keep the lines of communication open.
Talking About Difficult Subjects: Sex, Drugs, Death
As parents it is natural to want to protect our children. Whether we like it or not, our children will learn about life through questions, observations, or direct experiences. As parents, how we handle these learning opportunities is important. Dealing with difficult subjects honestly and with sensitivity can be a wonderful way to develop a healthy attitude about the lessons life offers each of us.
Taking the "Conflict" Out of Conflict Resolution
Effective listening skills and the ability to express your point of view in a non-threatening way are important in the development of healthy relationships. At times, conflict cannot be avoided, but the way in which it is handled shapes the long range effect on the children. Children need firm but respectful boundaries and limits set. In this workshop, discover specific skills to resolve these conflicts and solve problems that arise.
How To Talk So Your Children Will Listen
No, you can't force your children to listen, but there are specific techniques you can use that will encourage better listening skills in your children. This can be achieved through modeling, effective listening skills and providing a safe home environment. Go home from this session with some specific things you can do to encourage effective communication in your family.
Listen Effectively; Communicate Wisely
Building healthy relationships is the foundation for strong families. Children need to know they are loved and valued, and what is expected of them. What we say to our kids as well as how we say it relays these messages of self-worth. Kids learn to respect others in the family and to be respected through healthy communication. This session will focus on communicating positive messages and settings for healthy family discussions.
Keys to Communicating with Your Pre-teen
All the skills you used in communicating with your toddlers and elementary aged children only need a slight modification for communicating with your adolescent. Adolescents are known for pushing parents away during these years. But really your adolescent is sending a message that they need something different from their parents. Your job is to figure out what. In this workshop, we will help parents find effective ways to communicate, discipline and maintain a positive relationship with your adolescent.
Work and Family: The Best of Both
Do you ever feel like your life is turning into a three-ring circus? It is challenging to balance your work and family lives. No, we can't give you four more hours a day, but we can show you how to use the time you have more wisely. In this session, learn techniques to help find time for yourself, say no when you need to and how to prioritize the time you have.
Coping With the Stress of Parenting
Do you have too many demands on you? Does everyone in your life want or need a part of you? Healthy management skills can be the key to decreasing your levels of stress and increasing self esteem. In this workshop, discover tips and techniques to help you cope more effectively with the stress of parenting.
Stress Management
Do you have too many demands on you? Does everyone in your life seem to want or need a part of you? Healthy management skills can be the key to decreasing your levels of stress and increasing your self esteem. Invest your time to reduce your stress...it will have a positive effect on both you and the people around you.
Surviving Holiday Stress
Do you remember when the holiday season meant vacation, gifts, good food and a lot of fun with family and friends? As adults we have the new stresses of: finding child care for our vacationing children, finding time to spend with our friends and family. In this workshop you will discover methods for effective time management sorting out what's possible and what's not, and relaxing along the way.
ADHD: What Is It?
Children with special needs often require special parenting techniques. ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), LD (Learning Disabilities), and children with temperament issues often place extreme demands on families. Effectively parenting your child, being their advocate and providing for their needs can be wearing on everyone. This parenting session is designed for parents of children diagnosed with or suspected to have these challenges. Topics include defining these problems, suggested coping skills and offering techniques for improving communication between parent and child.