Community Speaker Lunch & Learn Workshop Series 2019 – 2020
Open to the public, this free speaker lunch & learn workshop series explores a range of parent education topics and philosophies. It is designed to provide opportunities for parents, educators and the community at large to practice life-long learning, whether about bilingual and other educational philosophies and programs, or about parenting in general.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!
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Supporting Bilingual Children:
What Parents Need to Know
Holly Kowalkowski
Thursday, August 29th from 6:00 to 6:45 pm at YPW Central
Thursday, September 5th from 6:00 to 6:45 pm at YPW Westlake
This presentation is practical guide for parents of young bilingual children. It will cover the benefits of Spanish Immersion Programs, discuss common myths and misconceptions about the how children learn languages, and give practical advice for how to support your children at home
Holly Kowalkowski is a Bilingual/Bicultural Education PhD student at the University of Texas at Austin. She has experience teaching 3rd grade and kindergarten dual language classes in Round Rock ISD, giving her firsthand experience with the second language acquisition process. Currently, she is passionate about supporting bilingual education programs and studying the impact that technology integration can have on language development.
Please note this is an adult only event. To RSVP, please click here
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Helping Children Through Life Transitions
Dr. Serena Messina www.serenamessina.com
Monday, September 16th from 12:00 to 1:00 pm at YPW Central
Change can be hard for all of us, but it can be particularly difficult for young children, who have more trouble adapting to new situations. This presentation will review some common life transitions children go through (i.e. changing class/school, having a new sibling, moving, etc.), what parents should expect in these circumstances and strategies to help their children adapt to these changes. The presentation will last one hour and will incorporate specific examples and activities to make materials more meaningful for parents
Dr. Serena Messina is a licensed psychologist who practices in Austin, Texas. She completed two doctoral programs, one at “Sapienza” University of Rome and the other one at The University of Texas at Austin. Through these programs, she gained extensive experience in counseling, consultation, and assessment in public schools, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, and mental health community agencies. She also developed a strong expertise on attachment issues. Her degree specialties are in clinical and developmental psychology.
Please note this is an adult only event. To RSVP, please click here
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Positive Discipline
Michelle Beyer, LPC-Intern, Supervised by Karen Burke, LPC-S, RPT-S www.AustinFamilyCounseling.com
Wednesday, October 9th from 12:00 to 1:00 pm at YPW Westlake
Thursday, November 7th from 12:00 to 1:00 pm at YPW Central
Positive Discipline is for parents who are looking for long-term parenting skills that will encourage their children to think for themselves, become more responsible and have greater respect for themselves and for others. Tools are based in Adlerian theory, which promotes kindness and firmness to help parents get to the core of their child’s misbehavior, bringing more joy into the home and offering a sense of accomplishment.
Michelle is a graduate of Texas State University, with a Master’s degree in counseling. Currently, Michelle sees children and parents at Austin Family Counseling, where she utilizes child centered play therapy and the Positive Discipline Parenting Model with her clients. Michelle’s passion is to help clients create a home environment where parents and children feel heard and respected. Additionally, Michelle is the Hiring and Intakes Manager for AFC, and the Training Facilitator for Austin Sandtray Association.
Please note this is an adult only event. To RSVP, please click here
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3 Tips for Getting Your Kids to Listen – So You’ll Have Less Need for Consequences –
Elisabeth Stitt Joyful Parenting Coaching www.elisabethstitt.com
Thursday, October 24th from 12:00 to 1:00 pm at YPW Central
As parents we don’t like to resort to threats or consequences, but we do want our kids to behave. We hate that we are nagging, yelling at and arguing with our kids. But what if you had the tools to talk to and interact with your kids in such a way that they listened to you and cooperated the first time you asked them to do something? Wouldn’t that feel better—and be more effective—than one more time out?
Come learn award winning parenting coach Elisabeth Stitt’s 3 Top Tips for Getting Your Kids to Listen.
You’ll hear about and get a chance to practice
•How to Use State Changers to get your kids’ attention
•How to Leave an Exit Open to help your kids feel in control even as they are doing what you want them to do
•How to use The Sustained Connect to move even a reluctant kid into positive action
During 25 of years of teaching, award winning parenting coach Elisabeth Stitt developed a deep bag of tricks. These are three of her favorite kid-tested techniques!
Elisabeth Stitt is an author, parent educator, coach, and retired teacher. As a teacher for 25 years, she knows how little support parents have in today’s society. She wants to help support parents and parents-to-be through her own extensive experience and expertise because she has been there and knows how to navigate the difficult world of parenting. She will help you learn the strategies and skills you need to rock your parenting. As a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, she commits to being at your side, in service to you.
Please note this is an adult only event. To RSVP, please click here
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Parents Who Parent Differently
Loren Lomme, LPC, RPT www.JustMind.org
Monday, December 2nd from 11:30 to 12:30 pm at YPW Westlake
In this presentation, parents will identify parenting styles and ways in which they were parented. Identify differences in parenting styles between partners and conflicts that arise from these differences. Identify ways to collaborate and communicate when parenting styles differ and clash
Loren works with children, adolescents, and parents using play therapy, sandtray therapy, and art techniques with a focus on how nervous system regulation affects behavior and emotions. She also works with parents to help guide them in more effective communication and relational skills, in addition to helping them problem-solve home and school difficulties. Although she works mostly with children and adolescents, Loren also works with adults using traditional talk therapy while incorporating aspects of mindfulness and emotion regulation skills as necessary. Loren is also a TBRI (Trust Based Relational Intervention) Practitioner. TBRI® is an attachment-based, trauma-informed intervention that is designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children.
Please note this is an adult only event. To RSVP, please click here
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Talking With Children About Difficult And
Uncomfortable Topics
Dr. Serena Messina www.serenamessina.com
Monday, January 27th from 12:00 to 1:00 pm at YPW Westlake
Every parent experienced that time when their child asked them a difficult question and the parent was at a loss trying to decide what to say and how to say it. This presentation will review developmentally appropriate ways to talk with children about difficult topics, strategies to do address children’s discomfort about specific topics, and ideas to encourage open communication between children and parents. The presentation will last one hour and will incorporate examples and activities to make materials more meaningful for parents.
Dr. Serena Messina is a licensed psychologist who practices in Austin, Texas. She completed two doctoral programs, one at “Sapienza” University of Rome and the other one at The University of Texas at Austin. Through these programs, she gained extensive experience in counseling, consultation, and assessment in public schools, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, and mental health community agencies. She also developed a strong expertise on attachment issues. Her degree specialties are in clinical and developmental psychology.
Please note this is an adult only event. To RSVP, please click here
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Children And Technology
Dr. Serena Messina www.serenamessina.com
Monday, February 3rd from 12:00 to 1:00 pm at YPW Central
Technology is present in all aspects of our life and parents may struggle on how to integrate it in their children’s day and how to put limits on it. This presentation will review criteria to decide when children should engage with technological devices, as well as effective strategies to consistently set limits around technology use. The presentation will last one hour and will offer parents concrete solutions about technology struggles and activities to practice them.
Dr. Serena Messina is a licensed psychologist who practices in Austin, Texas. She completed two doctoral programs, one at “Sapienza” University of Rome and the other one at The University of Texas at Austin. Through these programs, she gained extensive experience in counseling, consultation, and assessment in public schools, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, and mental health community agencies. She also developed a strong expertise on attachment issues. Her degree specialties are in clinical and developmental psychology.
Please note this is an adult only event. To RSVP, please click here
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How to Build Emotional Intelligence in Your Child
Cyndy Karras, Ph.D www.LeapConsultingServices.com
Thursday, March 26th from 11:30 to 12:30 pm at YPW Westlake
Building emotional intelligence now will help your child be a good manager, good leader, be able to contribute to a team environment personally and professionally and more importantly have the ability to develop strong, connected relationships now and later in life. You have probably heard the term “emotional intelligence” many times but what exactly is it? And why is it important for children to develop their emotional intelligence?
In this parent seminar, parents will learn the critical components necessary to help children become critical thinkers, develop strong interpersonal relationships, and persist through challenges.
Dr. Cyndy Karras received her doctorate from UT Austin in Human Development and Family Sciences. She holds a master’s degree in Educational Psychology from New York University. She is an Assistant Professor of Practice at the University of Texas at Austin where she is responsible for leading the next generation of early childhood educators. She is also the founder of L.E.A.P | Leading Educators and Parents Consulting | LLC , an organization that empowers early childhood professionals with the knowledge and tools critical to facilitating children’s cognitive and social-emotional well-being. She provides bilingual, professional development presentations, workshops, mentoring and educational training for early childhood professionals.
Please note this is an adult only event. To RSVP, please click here
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How to Build Emotional Intelligence in Your Child
Cyndy Karras, Ph.D www.LeapConsultingServices.com
Thursday, April 23th from 11:30 to 12:30 pm at YPW Central
Building emotional intelligence now will help your child be a good manager, good leader, be able to contribute to a team environment personally and professionally and more importantly have the ability to develop strong, connected relationships now and later in life. You have probably heard the term “emotional intelligence” many times but what exactly is it? And why is it important for children to develop their emotional intelligence?
In this parent seminar, parents will learn the critical components necessary to help children become critical thinkers, develop strong interpersonal relationships, and persist through challenges.
Dr. Cyndy Karras received her doctorate from UT Austin in Human Development and Family Sciences. She holds a master’s degree in Educational Psychology from New York University. She is an Assistant Professor of Practice at the University of Texas at Austin where she is responsible for leading the next generation of early childhood educators. She is also the founder of L.E.A.P | Leading Educators and Parents Consulting | LLC , an organization that empowers early childhood professionals with the knowledge and tools critical to facilitating children’s cognitive and social-emotional well-being. She provides bilingual, professional development presentations, workshops, mentoring and educational training for early childhood professionals.
Please note this is an adult only event. To RSVP, please click here