Upcoming Programs: Fall 2008

"Evening with Superintendent William McAlduff" Join us for our annual discussion with the Winchester Superintendent of Schools. Mr. McAlduff will speak to parents on a wide range of topics and issues;an informal and interactive format allows for plenty of Q & A. Thursday, October 16, Winchester High School, 7:30 PM.

Programs 2005-2008

Just for Women: Recapturing Balance, Gaining Perspective in a Frenzied AgeHow do we keep a sharp eye on the road of life when we can barely get supper on the table each night? How can women regain perspective at home and at work, and make sure they don't wake up at 50, wondering where the years went? In a world of freedom, mobility and hyper-connectivity, work-life balance can easily dissolve into a muddling struggle to survive - whether you are paid to work or not. In this talk, renowned work-life author Maggie Jackson provided insights and ideas to help women combat the daily frenzy and find their new pace, frameworks and definitions of success. Maggie Jackson is an award-winning journalist and author, specializing in work-life issues. Thank you to the En Ka Society for its generous support of this program. May 2008

Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems: An Evening with Dr. Richard Ferber " Dr. Ferber, director of the Center for Pediatric Sleep Disorders at Children's Hospital and world renowned expert on sleep problems, outlined the main causes of sleeplessness in the young child, helped parents to identify these causes, and offered ways to address the problems. This program addressed bedtime difficulties, night time wakings, and poor napping that affect many children at some point during their first five years of life. Thank you to the John and Mary Murphy Foundation for the generous donation to this program. April, 2008.

Successful Transitions to College: Surviving and Thriving This program, for parents of high schoolers and first year college students, offered a unique opportunity to learn about navigating a successful transition to college. Rick Irving, LICSW and a popular speaker, lead a discussion with recent Winchester High School graduates about the joys and challenges of this major transition, and what parents need to know. In addition to learning from our local youth, parents were given strategies to consider and viewed a wonderful DVD shown at many college orientations. January 2008

Whose Homework is it Anyway? Fostering Independence and Responsibilty Homework can be a challenge for families, causing stress for both children and parents. Parents often find themselves feeling frustrated and confused about how to help their children without nagging or completing the work for them. This interactive workshop offered approaches to promote a positive attitude toward homework. Parents learned strategies to foster independence and avoid power struggles over school work. Participants had opportunities to identify concerns, learn how to communicate expectations effectively, and take home tools to establish homework routines that enable children to organize themselves responsibly and work independently. Susan Marx, a parent educator from Families First, presented this timely and engaging program. October 2007

An Evening with Superintendent William McAlduff Parents heard from Winchester's new School Superintendent in a casual, interactive forum. William McAlduff comes to Winchester from Wilmington, Ma where he was Superintendent of their public schools for four years. Mr. McAlduff spoke with parents regarding a wide range of concerns and short and long term goals as the new head of the Winchester Public Schools. September 2007

The Pressured Child: Helping your Child Find Success in School and Life. Noted author and former Parent to Parent speaker, Michael Thompson, PhD., spoke to almost 200 parents, describing the psychological journey that children experience during their thirteen years in school. He told parents that children are almost never judging themselves by grades; they are always monitoring their own development, usually with three main goals in mind: connection, recognition and power. Michael Thompson has written several books and has extensive experience working with children and families. May 2007

Helping Our Children Navigate Today's Culture. In today's culture, we are bombarded with messages about what it means and what it takes to be attractive, to be popular, and to be successful. These messages can negatively impact children's developing self concept and their understanding of the world around them. How do we give our children the tools to navigate the media and peer culture effectively? Sharon Maxwell, PhD., a licensed clinical psychologist, spoke to parents of children in upper elementary and middle school grades on how to empower their children to become critical thinkers. Parent to Parent thanks the Rotary Club for their contribution towards this program. March 2007

Raising Competent, Confident and Balanced Children in a Culture of Pressure This program for parents of elementary school children focused on managing stress and achieving balance in our families. Rick Irving, LICSW, a school counselor and child and family therapist, addressed such topics as: the advantages and disadvantages of involvement in extracurricular activities; what to know about your child and yourself that will help you find the right balance; how to communicate with children about pressures they feel; and how to effectively encourage a child who might need a nudge to get involved. This program also included a discussion with middle school students on their thoughts about how parents can help in managing stress. Parent to Parent thanks the EnKa Society for their generous contribution to this program. February 2007

Successful Transitions to High School Eighth grade parents participated in small group discussions following the Winchester High School cirriculum overview. The discussion groups were facilitated by high school students and parents and provided an excellent forum in which to learn about classes, homework, social life, and extracurricular activites. Annually in March

Growing up and Letting Go: Parenting High Schoolers Toward Successful Transitions and Increased Independence Author and psychotherapist, Madge Treeger spoke to parents about the evolution of the parent - child relationship that takes place toward the end of high school and throughout the college years. She talked about how parents can encourage self-reliance and the development of their adolescent's own identity, interests and pursuits. A former member of the Washington University Student Counseling Service, Ms. Treeger co-authored the best-selling book, Letting Go: A Parent's Guide To Understanding The College Years, and has spoken about this topic on national radio and television. Parent to Parent thanks the En Ka Society for helping to defray the cost of this event. November 2006

Balanced for Success: Foundations for Excellence in Sport and Life Dr. Adam Naylor, sport psychology coach and coordinator of the BU Athletic Enhancement Center discussed ways to make sport a lifelong adventure. Dr. Naylor outlined the developmentally appropriate goals for children at the various stages of their involvement in sports and addressed issues such as preventing burnout, improving communication and trust, and maximizing performance. He provided starategies to maintain a perspective that leads to enjoyment, commitment, and excellence on and off of the playing field. October 2006

Risky Behaviors: Understanding Risk Taking Behavior and When to be Concerned The social life of teens can be a challenging time - for both parent and child. In this two-part program, we discussed adolescents' need to take risks and sometimes make bad decisions. Parents learned how to talk with their children about difficult issues - such as school problems, friends, alcohol, drugs and sex - and to know when to seek further help. Beth Fredericks, a popular Families First speaker, facilitated this interactive program for high school parents. May 2005

Let's Get Real  Parent to Parent and the Multicultural Network jointly sponsored this program for parents and adults who work with nine to twelve year olds to a showing of the film Let's Get Real. This 37 minute film features the voices of middle school students who have been bullies, targets, and bystanders because of their race, religion, body size, gender, sexual orientation, or physical or mental challenges. Rick Irving, LICSW, and Hillary Turkewitz, PhD, lead a discussion following the film about how bullying impacts our children. School administrators and a group of students were on hand to add their perspective on how this issue impacts our community. April 2005

Parenting to Empower:  Helping Teens Navigate the Social Challenges of Adolescence This program was developed in conjunction with several community organizations. The Winchester Foundation for Educational Excellence funded a major grant to the McCall Middle School to introduce the "Empower Program". The Multicultural Network was also a sponsor. In this evening session for parents, Rosalind Wiseman, well-known author of "Queen Bees and Wannabees" discussed the today's social adolescent culture: cliques, teasing, bullying and other common rites of passage. The program offered strategies and guidance on raising children who can navigate adolescence safely with strong friendships. November 2004

Discussing Diversity with Young Children Co-sponsored with the Multicultural Network, this program offered guidance to parents on how to discuss the subject of diversity with young children. The discussion included diversity issues such as race, religion, learning differences, sexual preference, and family structures. The program was facilitated by Rachel Wilson, of the Multicultural Network, and Jon Pfeifer, a K-1 grade teacher from the Leslie Ellis School in Arlington. October 2004