Thoughtful Parenting Community Discussion Series

Parents and Children togetherAllen Creek Preschool hosts a series of evening of lectures and informal, open discussions, free and open to the community. Topics are generated from parent suggestions.

Thoughtful Parenting is an active stance toward parenting, empowering parents to be the kinds of parents they want to be. We help parents articulate their own values in child rearing and move toward actualizing these values, developing a sense of agency and joy in raising their children. All events are on Wednesdays from 8pm - 9pm.

Topics This Year Include

  • Divorce and Blended Families - Dr. Ivan Sherick
    Wednesday, January 11, 2012 - 8:00 - 9:00 pm
     Divorce is a difficult time for spouses and their children.  Sometimes children blame themselves for causing their parents to divorce.  How can one talk to a young child about an impending divorce? Being a step-parent, step-child,  or step-sib can be challenging. We will discuss the issues connected with divorce and blended families.

  • Discipline vs. Punishment - Dr. Merton Shill
    Wednesday, March 14, 2012 - 8:00 - 9:00 pm
    A chance to look at the fine distinction between discipline and punishment and address behavior in early childhood.

  • Working Parents - Working with Separation - Dr. Bernadette Kovachs
    Wednesday, April 11, 2012 - 8:00 - 9:00 pm
    One of the major challenges for parents of preschoolers and early elementary children is separation. Keeping the complex developmental process of separation at the forefront, we will discuss the rewards and challenges of working for both parent and child.

  • Play and the Players - Dr. Mort Chethik
    Wednesday, May 9, 2012 - 8:00 - 9:00 pm
    While we play naturally with children, we often do not understand that this interaction, carried on through childhood and beyond, has striking benefits for the ongoing relationship and for the internal development of the child. Play, which is clearly associated with pleasure, enhances the loving tie significantly. For the child, when the function of play is developed, it serves as the foundation for the creative capacities of the child -- his or her ability to use her imagination and fantasy life. The speaker will illustrate these ideas with anecdotes from the turmoil of raising 4 children.