Parents and Kids Invited to Family Fun Nights

 

Parents who are looking for affordable ways to entertain the kids are invited to check out the free Family Fun Nights hosted by Project Self-Sufficiency on Thursday evenings, May 2^nd, 16^th, and 30^th, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m., 127 Mill Street, Newton.   A special Mother’s Day event will be held on May 9^th, 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. During May, families are invited to enjoy games, activities, and crafts with a focus on nursery rhymes, nature, and music; dinner will be provided for all participants.  Advance registration is encouraged by calling Project Self-Sufficiency, 973-940-3500. Family Fun Nights are a program of the Journey Family Success Center at Project Self-Sufficiency.

 

“These weekly Family Fun Nights offer parents and children a place to relax and have a good time together in a safe and supportive environment,” explains Project Self-Sufficiency Executive Director Deborah Berry-Toon. “Children and parents or caregivers are invited to express themselves creatively through fun crafts and activities.”

 

Free Parenting Classes Address Common Challenges

 

Parents and caregivers are invited to attend free workshops designed to offer practical strategies for common parenting challenges, including anger management, positive discipline, handling disobedience, and promoting resiliency.  Workshops will be offered at Project Self-Sufficiency and online.  Pizza and childcare will be available to attendees at all in-person sessions. Those who attend two of the in-person workshops will receive a $25 gift card; attendees at three events will receive a $50 gift card.  

 

Seminars offered at Project Self-Sufficiency on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. include “The Power of Positive Parenting,” May 1^st; “Raising Resilient Children,” May 8^th; and “Raising Confident, Competent Children,” May 15^th.

 

Project Self-Sufficiency will also offer discussion groups about select issues impacting parents of young children on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. including “Hassle Free Shopping with Children,” June 5^th; “Developing Good Bedtime Routines,” June 12^th; “Dealing with Disobedience,” June 19^th; and “Hassle Free Mealtimes with Children,” June 26^th.

 

For those unable to attend in-person workshops, “Raising Safe Kids” will be offered via Zoom on Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m., beginning June 18th. A certificate of completion is available for the virtual series.

 

The in-person workshops will help participants identify their parenting goals, address behavioral problems, and promote healthy child development by using the Triple P Positive Parenting Program, a comprehensive education initiative targeted to parents, healthcare professionals, educators, and caregivers of infants, toddlers, and school-aged children.  The virtual series uses the ACT Parents Raising Safe Kids curriculum developed by the American Psychological Association to develop effective parenting skills and prevent behavioral issues and violence.

 

“These workshops will give parents, caregivers, and educators simple and practical strategies to help build strong, healthy relationships, confidently manage children’s behavior, manage their own anger, and ultimately prevent problems from developing,” explains Project Self-Sufficiency Executive Director Deborah Berry-Toon.

 

Interested participants are invited to call Project Self-Sufficiency, 973-940-3500, or register online, www.projectselfsufficiency.org.

Learn How to Talk to Kids about Mental Health

 

Community members are invited to learn how to introduce young children to mental health concepts and address their corresponding feelings, thoughts and actions by attending a meeting of the Project Sussex Kids General Council, Wednesday, May 1^st, 11:00 a.m., at Project Self-Sufficiency.  The presentation, which is particularly designed for parents and those who work with parents of young children, will feature the Gizmo’s Pawsome Guide to Mental Health and will be facilitated by the NJ4S Mental Health Association.  The Gizmo program uses the concept of a therapy dog to boost awareness of children’s mental health with an extensive array of curricula, in-person activities, and interactive video content. During the presentation, Project Self-Sufficiency staff will also provide an update on Project Sussex Kids activities in the community.  The meeting is free and open to the public; advance registration is encouraged.  Interested participants are invited to call Project Self-Sufficiency at 973-940-3500 to register.