Annual Parenting Conferences

rePRN Te Invita! En Español

Academia de Formación de Padres en Español!! Un evento de capacitación y recursospara el español habla de las familias de niños con necesidades especiales.

 

(Parent Training Academy in Spanish!! A training and resource event for Spanish-Speaking Families of Children with Special Needs.)

 

June 13th, 2013
St. Paul's Children's Foundation
1358 E. Richards     Tyler, Texas 75702
9am - 3pm
Featured Presenter: Patricia Alvarez
Es obligatorio el registro. Contactar Ms. Alvarez al 512-944-2104 o pathproject@partnerstx.org.

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2013 Parenting Conference: Who's in Charge?

Over 300 people attended Parent Services Center's annual parenting conference Saturday, January 26. The topic was "Who's In Charge? How to Avoid Power Struggles with Children." Kelly Smith, Behavior Specialist for Mesquite ISD, was the featured speaker.

 

"Ms. Smith received rave reviews," said Conference Chairperson Suzanne Brians. "The parents, teachers, childcare providers, mental health professionals, and foster parents gained a much greater understanding about how to create positive behaviors in children at home and school."

 

Ms. Smith encouraged parents and teachers to use the basics of behavior management with their children: To explain what you want in specific terms, to model your expectations, to practice what you want to see, to remind frequently, and to reinforce behaviors that you like.

 

"One of the most successful techniques to use with defiant children is to help them practice the skills and procedures that they fail to use," said Ms. Smith. "We refer to these practices as 'Practice Academies.' The purpose of an 'academy' is to practice a desired behavior so that the child really learns it," she said.

 

"Children will naturally argue to avoid consequences. This is a normal developmental process and does not necessarily mean that anything is wrong with your child," said Ms. Smith. "Children will do more arguing when they are strong-willed or find you, the parent, teacher or guardian, an easy target."

 

"I have left this seminar confident that I can handle negative behaviors in my students," stated one teacher.

 

Pictured above: Executive Director Shelley Judd, Conference Speaker Kelly Smith, Conference Chair Suzanne Brians and Conference Registrar Shirley McLeod.

 

Parent Services Center is a non-profit organization which seeks to provide parents and those who work with children the educational opportunities, resources and support necessary to raise children who can become healthy, contributing members of society.

 

"Our programs are made possible through individual donations, grants, and the generosity of Corporate Sponsors Southside Bank and At Home Healthcare," said Executive Director Shelley Judd. "We are grateful to all those who support the belief that families matter.