Cary center offers classes for parents of tots to teens

St. Paul's Center for Hope and Healing offers a wide variety of programs in the coming months, including several classes for parents of teens. Topics including bullying, parenting teen boys, stressed out kids and gay children.

Posted 5:13 p.m. Jan 6, 2012 — Updated 5:13 p.m. Jan 6, 2012

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

St. Paul's Center for Hope and Healing has some classes designed for parents, including many for parents with teens.

All programs are held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Union Street in Cary.

Here is what's scheduled:

6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Jan. 26. More Connecting, Less Correcting. Edla Prevette, trainer with Flip Educational Consulting, will present an interactive workshop on discipline. This workshop, geared toward families with school-aged children, will help parents sift through numerous discipline philosophies to access the strategies most helpful to them. She will assist each parent with creating a family discipline philosophy, provide ways to institute choices using a scaffolding concept and demonstrate how to use consequences in a way that teaches children rather than punishes them. Cost: $15.
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Feb. 23. Stressed out Kids: Are they really? What does a kid have to be stressed about? Actually, many things contribute to childhood stress, from daily expectations to world events. Learn how to help your child identify, recognize and manage stress. Elizabeth Worley, trainer with Flip Educational Consulting, will present this collaborative workshop for parents who will gain concrete, realistic strategies to support their children during stressful times. Cost: $15.
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., March 22. Spirited, Shy, Silly or Sensitive? Understanding children’s temperament and how it impacts their behavior. Why do some children push our buttons while others seem so easy? Could it be that our temperaments are in conflict with one another? In this CHH workshop conducted by Edla Prevette, trainer with Flip Educational Consulting, you will have the opportunity to identify your child’s individual temperament and how to nurture these traits into becoming your child’s greatest strength. This high energy interactive presentation based on the work of Mary Kurcinka, author of Raising Your Spirited Child and Kids, Parents and Power Struggles, will give you new insight into what makes your child tick and ways to support him/her. Cost: $15.
Feb. 19. Anti-bullying: Awareness, Communication and Prevention. Facebook, texts, teasing and horseplay: new and not so new behaviors we associate with teenagers. But sometimes these activities can be vehicles for bullying. In this seminar, Martha Cordell will share current trends in bullying. Emphasis will be given to educating parents and teens on how to prevent bullying and deal with incidents if they occur. Resources will be part of this interactive session. Discussion is encouraged. After an initial presentation, parents and youth will break into independent discussion groups facilitated by two licensed clinical social workers. Two sessions: 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. for middle schoolers and 6 to 6:30 p.m. for high schoolers. Cost: Free.
7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., March 6. Where are Superheroes When you Need Them Most? Parenting Teen Boys. As the old saying goes…boys will be boys. Thank heavens! Teen guys are wonderful creatures: funny, irreverent, unpredictable and sometimes unreachable. Join us for a look at what makes teen boys tick. Dr. Tammy Finch will explore the roadblocks boys face on their way to maturity and examine the cultural influences impacting development. We’ll look at how parents can communicate more effectively with teen sons and encourage more thoughtful decision making. Parents will gain the skills needed to help your son successfully transition from teen to young adult! Cost: $15.
7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Feb. 9. Princesses and Drama Queens: Helping your Teen Girl Survive Girl World. Girl world — a place of high drama and emotional lows! Join Dr. Tammy Finch in a workshop designed to deepen your understanding of what it means to be a young woman in today’s world. We will explore the culture of relationship drama. We’ll examine how contemporary media influences the development of body image and sexuality — and how parents can offer counter balancing positive messages. We will explore the be perfect mindset of young women and how parents can help girls effectively manage stress. This workshop will give you the knowledge and skills you need to inform, enlighten and empower the drama queens in your life! Cost: $15.
Jan. 22, College Planning. Keith Childers of ABC College Planning will help parents and children properly plan for higher education goals and effectively structure the financial aspects of obtaining these goals. He will present two sessions for parents and students: one for middle school and one high school. Each will cover: Finding your focus — the right career based on skill set, goals, morals and values; finding free money for college; preparing for the PSAT, ACT and SAT; enrolling, scholarships, FAFSA, grants, admission essay editing, student loans, etc.; financial planning — personal and business; tax information. Two sessions: 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. for middle schoolers and 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. for high schoolers. Cost: Free.
7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Jan. 19. Stepping Into the Fray: Common Sense Strategies for Parenting Teens. Teens can be so difficult to parent! Just when you think you have parenting all figured out, your teen goes through an enormous amount of developmental growth, his/her world shifts dramatically, your teen doesn’t communicate well anymore and you’re left wondering what to do and how to help! Join Dr. Tammy Finch for a fun, fast and knowledge-packed session on understanding and dealing with your teenager. We will examine the developmental changes in teens, look at how current teen culture is different from our own growing up, consider how the rules of a boy world and a girl world impact our teens’ lives and, most importantly, discover common sense and practical strategies for communicating and connecting with our teens. Cost: $15.
7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Jan. 30. Adjusting to the Family and Societal Realities of Having a Gay Child. Parenting any child has its rewards and anxieties, joys and fears. Social changes make it more complicated for parents, relatives and friends of individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning (LGBTQ). The class is designed to provide supportive information and will be a supportive resource for individuals who have a child or a relative that is LGBTQ. Some items that will be discussed are coming out, grief/loss issues and advocating for your child. Instructor Meg Donald has community work experience, continuing education, personal experiences with friends and family members, and an understanding of the benefits of sharing experiences and knowledge. This is an opportunity to learn more about the factors involved in this issue and to ask questions. The interests of those attending will influence future offerings and supportive programming. Cost: Free.

Registration is required. Participants should register at chhcary.org, where you'll also find more information about the center and its other programs.

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