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The Parent Network Skamania Klickitat Community Network PO Box 2306 White Salmon, WA 98672 February 2010 Visit the 14th Annual H.U.G.S. Fair Saturday March 6 Henkle Middle School White Salmon 10:00 am -2:00 pm Free Family Fun Learn cool stuff about being healthy and safe! Help Us Grow Safely 1-[PHONE REDACTED] Our toll free information line is there to help find information on classes, workshops and other parent centered activities in and around Skamania and Klickitat County. Educational Service District 112 of Vancouver introduces Parent U - online webinars that will provide parents ideas to help their children. We are looking for parents and other interested individuals who are willing to “test drive” the process of participation in Parent U and provide feedback regarding your experience. For more information, contact Tanna Colwell at [EMAIL REDACTED] Q. What’s the best way to communicate with a fish? A. Drop it a line. Welcome to all parents and grandparents. We hope you find the following information useful. We know parenting is a 24-hour a day, 7 day a week job. This newsletter offers a collection of ideas, stories and tips designed to help you learn what to expect-and how to handle the unexpected. How do I love thee? Let me say the ways… You are terrific. I am so lucky to be your… Mom, Dad, Grandpa, teacher….. Wow, that took hard work to do. You stayed with it and it really paid off. I am impressed! Tell me what your favorite color is in that picture. The best thing just happened to me. You came home. I noticed you did that very well. You just did something very kind. How nice to see that. I am proud to see you put so much effort into that. Second Annual Kinship Caregiver Conference Vancouver, WA Children's Home Society For caregivers raising grandchildren or other young relatives. Saturday, February 27 8:30am - 4:00 pm Clark County Center for Community Health Register by calling Lauren Head at 695-1325 ext. 4224 or email [EMAIL REDACTED]. Stevenson Library offers “Wacky Wednesday’s” on early release Wednesdays. Join us for games, movies, stories, reader theaters and more. The fun lasts from 1:30 to 3:30. You never know what’s going to happen! [PHONE REDACTED] Strengthening Families: Free family skills and parenting program for parents with youth ages 10-14. Begins February 11 in Goldendale. [PHONE REDACTED] to register. Dinner & childcare provided. ---PAGE BREAK--- Learn & Play Held in Stevenson, White Salmon and now Goldendale these delightful programs are for parents with children newborn to eight. Hear a wonderful story, enjoy some crafts and activities and see how playing is really learning wrapped up in fun! *Free Books* Music* Stories* White Salmon Thursday, February 11 5:30-7:00 Whitson Elementary School Si Habla Español! Now in Goldendale, Thursday, February 11 3:15-5:00 pm Goldendale Elementary School Stevenson Thursday, February 18 6:00-7:30 Stevenson Elementary School Sponsored by the Skamania Klickitat Early Learning Coalition You are your child’s best teacher! Keep a bowl of fruit handy in your house for you and your children to snack on. For the price of one large bag of potato chips, you can typically buy three or four pounds of fresh fruit. Yum! For little ones able to eat solid food, wash, peel and cut apples into smaller pieces so they can enjoy, too. Love makes the world go ‘round, but laughter keeps us from jumping off. • March 3-May 12 (no class on March 24) • Register by March 1st! • 10 week series (Wednesday) 5:45-8:00 pm • May Street Elementary School (911 May St. – Hood River) • Free light dinner for parents and children • Free childcare available 6 mos.-9 yrs. (must register!) • Fee: $25 registration fee per family (scholarships are available) • $30 gift card for each adult who attends minimum of 7 out of 10 sessions • Maximum 20 adults • For more information/to register call: Kate Dougherty (541) 386-3850 [EMAIL REDACTED] Sponsored by: Hood River County School District & New Parent Services, a program of The Next Door www.nextdoorinc.or Tips for Calming Down When Talking with Your Teenager Resolving conflict constructively may be a huge challenge, but it’s an absolute necessity for the sake of every member of your family. Once you are calm, you are in a better position to address the issues that caused the conflict. Here are some tips: • Assert your authority in a calm, firm manner. • Give your point of view. State the problem as you see it. Are you mad because your teenager was rude, or is it that you are concerned that rudeness signals a possible problem with anger? Speak clearly and calmly-don’t yell. • Use I statements-“I feel worried and upset when I hear from the school you haven’t been in class. School is important. I expect you to follow the law and our family rules. No skipping school.” • Ask to hear your teen’s point of view. Maybe there’s a reason for them to avoid school. Are they being bullied? Girls can be mean as boys, so be aware. Pay attention, listen, and carefully consider what your teen is saying. Say it back to them respectfully so they know you really heard them. Sarcasm or downplaying a concern can lead to hurt feelings and make things worse. • Discuss ways to solve the dispute without a battle. Ask them how they would like to see the situation handled. What are their suggestions? Try to use at least one or two of them. • Use gentle “self-talk” or humor to help calm anger and frustration. • Practice the art of compromise when possible. Some situations don’t allow for it. If they do, find the middle ground you can both live with and then respect the agreement. Adapted from the White House Council on Youth Violence 2000 Overindulged Children Are Not Necessarily Happy Children. Once they reach the teen years, the average child spends $100.00 per week regardless of family income level*. Yikes! Kids who get everything they want without having to earn it in some way often have an overblown sense of importance. They think and act as if the world owes them. It’s the opposite of genuine self-esteem, which comes from working towards and successfully achieving a goal. One very effective way to help build character is to involve your children in regular family chores. By expecting them to help out in the day-to-day “support system” that keeps a household running smoothly, you are building resiliency skills in your children that will last a lifetime. They will be more likely to develop a good sense of responsibility, gain a solid work ethic, and be willing to volunteer their time and talents later in life. * Teen Research Unlimited, October 2003 Make Parenting a Pleasure Hood River LOOK!!